Jesus, Justice & Mercy

Jesus is Humble

John 8:1 Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. Evening shadows were falling, and the people went home. But Jesus, the Creator of all things, had no home. He was a stranger in His own world.

Matthew 8:20 “The foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has not where to lay His head.”

The Mount of Olives was the closest place to home that Jesus ever knew. That is because there He could be alone in quiet communion with His Father. Everyone else had their own family. He was in a world that did not know or want Him—unrecognized, unwanted, and unloved.

Humility does simple tasks, unnoticed.

John 8:2 And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and He sat down, and taught them.

Early in the morning Jesus came again into the temple, sat down, and taught. No shattering miracles, no celestial press agents running around to Jerusalem News, standing on corners announcing Him.

With Jesus, the Word is never sensationalism. It is availability. He’s there if you want Him.

He sat and He taught, and if any man or woman wanted to come, they were welcome.

There’s no place for sensationalism in any presentation of the gospel. Just give the Word.

Sin Brings Judgment

John 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst…

The Jews of Christ’s time had serious thoughts about adultery, and rightly so in God’s eyes.
From a purely legal standpoint they were right. According to their law they had a legitimate case and this woman (and the man not present) deserved to die. They did not really care about that. They actually just wanted to use her to trap Jesus. But that is not possible.

Christ’s Judgment is Just

John 8:5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what do you say? 8:6 This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground,  as though He did not hear them.

It’s easy to be a hypocrite. These religious leaders had one thing in mind, they wanted to exploit this sin to trap Jesus. With a clear, cold-blooded kind of vengeance they acted, using the guilt of their captive to attempt to accomplish the evil purpose in their soul. Jesus’ decision, from their perspective, will be one: He will go with God’s laws,  and stone her, or go with His love for sinners, which would align Him with Roman law.

Here Christ deals with the most profound moral problem in the entire universe:  How do justice and mercy harmonize?

The law of righteousness demands punishment,  so how does forgiveness fit in? How can you give mercy, when the sword  of justice is swinging, and in the way? How can there be grace without destroying justice?

Responding to Conviction

John 8:7 So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

He did not get into a debate about Mosaic law. He simply said, ‘If you are without the desire to sin, go ahead, throw the stone.’ The question is whether your foul hearts place you in a position to be anybody’s judge.

You are here to kill Me. You are guilty on the spot, yet  you want to condemn her. They responded to the conviction of their sin by turning away, by departing, but not by turning to Christ and asking for forgiveness.

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Jesus Forgives

John 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none  but the woman, He said unto her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?” 11 She said, “No man, Lord.” And Jesus said unto her,  “Neither do I condemn thee: Go, and sin no more.”

Jesus offered Divine forgiveness, which was something the law could not give her.

Jesus gives a positional statement: I don’t condemn you. Then you have a practical statement, Go and sin no more.

Here are both sides of our Christian experience. We are forgiven, but that’s no excuse to cruise or free load on God’s grace by going out and sinning further.

Jesus’ mercy and forgiveness should heighten our love and gratitude, compelling us to live for Him.