John 7:45-8:11
Q.1. Why did the guards refuse to arrest Jesus? How did Nicodemus respond? How open-minded were the leaders? (Jn.7:45-53)
The arresting officers listened to Jesus and concluded that – Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks (Jn.7:46). The leaders had no respect for the crowds, so didn’t consider what they were saying – 48 No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? 49 But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed (Jn.7:48-49). Yet the argument of the people was sound – … When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He? (Jn.7:31). The leaders were closed minded and had already concluded that Jesus was worthy of death. However, Nicodemus pleaded – Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it? (Jn.7:51). They seemed to know about the claim of the virgin birth of Jesus (Jn.8:41) but were unaware of His birth in Bethlehem under the edict of Caesar Augustus (Lk.2:1).
Q.2. What was the motive behind the actions of the Scribes and Pharisees? How was their interpretation of Scripture wrong? (Jn.8:1-6) Deut.22:22; Mt.5:17)
This is one of the most celebrated stories of Jesus. It is about His forgiving the woman who was caught in adultery. The Scribes and Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus – … testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him (Jn.8:6). They felt that they had good grounds under the Law of Moses to stone her to death (Jn.8:5). Was this true? In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus expanded the demands of the Law … the high standard that He alone could keep perfectly. The Law was clear – If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death (Lev.20:10) … and – If a man is found lying with a married woman, then both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel (Dt.22:22). In violation of the Law that they claimed to uphold, no man was brought before Jesus. Jesus rightly questioned their sinful and gender biased behaviour.
Q.3. What did Jesus write on the ground? How did He challenge the woman’s accusers? Did Jesus take sin lightly when forgiving the woman? (Jn.8:6-11)
It was not recorded what Jesus wrote in the sand because that is probably not the main point. The Law was written by the finger of God. According to Moses, He – wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me (Dt.5:22 c.f. Ex.8:19; Lk.11:20). The significance of Jesus’ writing on the ground would not have been lost to the Scribes and Pharisees. It brought conviction to the mob. They all, from the most experienced to the less mature, disappeared. No one but God can forgive a sinner (Mk.2:7 & 10). Jesus had the authority to pardon the woman. However, He did not let her go before reinforcing the high purpose for marital fidelity. He called on her to turn from her sinful ways (Jn.8:11).