Let Mercy Lead
July 10, 2022
One question that can pretty much guarantee to quiet a room: And that is this: What is the worst thing you’ve ever done? Not the best conversation starter. In fact, if I was to ask that in a Journey group setting, that may be the best question I could ever ask to get everyone to look down, clam up and begin praying that no one answers. Which is kind of funny, because if I was to ask this question in bar with a bunch of drinking buddies back in the day, everyone would have a story to share.
That got me to thinking why we are reluctant or even afraid to share our worst sins with one another. A couple things come quickly to mind. One, we don’t share our failures or sins, because we are ashamed of what we’ve done; and two, we’re simply afraid how others will react. We are afraid of being judged or condemned or ultimately rejected because of our sin. And that’s sad, because one of the reasons God sent His Son to us, was to not only forgive us of our sin, but also free us from the judgment and rejection attached to it.
My guess is that we’ve all got some skeletons in our closets. That is, we’ve all done some things we are not proud of, some things we’re ashamed of, and some things we’d like to let go of and move on with our lives. And if that’s you, if you’re carrying around guilt or shame for things you’ve done, or if you’re living with fear of being rejected because of skeleton in your closet, then what we are going to see from Jesus today should not only give you hope but a whole new way of looking at people who’ve been damaged by sin.
In fact, if you brought your Bible with you this morning, let me encourage you to find John chapter 8, as we return to the story of Jesus. Our text today is John 8:1-11 where Jesus is about to give us a lesson on how God’s mercy trumps judgment – every time. How God’s mercy frees us from shame and gives even the worst sinner among us a hope for a new start in life. So, if you’ve ever needed freedom from shame that shackles you; ever wished you could get past your past; and if you’ve ever wondered how God would have you live, then let’s look at what happens when mercy leads.
But before we see how Jesus let mercy lead him, we need to set the scene. The scene that’s about to take place happens the day after the Feast of Booths concluded. If you were with us last week, we saw Jesus take center stage at the conclusion of the Water Pouring Ceremony that looked back at God’s provision of water in the desert for those who were dying of thirst. And looked forward to the day when God would bless Israel with living water that would flow from the Temple. For this would be the ushering in of the Messianic Age. So, when Jesus takes center stage and proclaims, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:37-38; He was claiming to be the fulfillment of God’s promise. He was claiming to the Messiah. Jesus was proclaiming to be the rock from which springs of living water will flow. And upon making this claim, the people were divided. Some believed, but most did not; and there were those who outright rejected him.
Let’s pick up the story now at the end of chapter seven: Then each went to his own home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. John 8:1-2 After the feast, everyone went to their own home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. We are not told what he did there. But judging from how Jesus responded following meaningful events, we can conclude that Jesus went to there to spend time alone in prayer – to spend time listening to his Father and finding strength and encouragement to continue doing the Father’s will. For the next thing Jesus does after spending time with the Father is return again to the temple courts.
You’ve got to admire Jesus’ courage here. Jesus went right back to the place where the crowds were confused and divided, right back to the place where the temple guards could be waiting to arrest him, right back to the place where it wouldn’t be long before those who’ve rejected him will try to come up with another scheme to attack him. But what I love about Jesus here, is that He is neither intimidated nor detoured. Jesus stays on mission and continues to teach those who are drawn to him. But as we are about to see, it doesn’t take long for the religious leaders to try a new way to trip up Jesus. So, what we see next, is them, Setting the Trap:
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. John 8:3-6a Let me take a moment to show you how they were hoping to trap Jesus. One side of the trap was easy: They knew that if Jesus was truly a man of God, he would have to uphold the law of Moses and agree that this woman must be stoned to death. But if he agreed to that, he would then fall prey to the other side of the trap, that had to do with the Roman guards who were constantly watching everything that took place on the Temple grounds. Roman Law forbid the Jews from carrying out executions apart from their authority. So, if Jesus agreed that this woman be stoned, right then and there – that would lead to his immediate arrest by the Romans. They’d put Jesus in a no-win situation. Their cunning had Jesus in a pickle. For if he in anyway tried to compromise the law in order to avoid arrest by the Romans, that would discredit him as a teacher. But if he approved her stoning, he would break Roman law and be publicly humiliated by getting arrested. It was a perfect trap. Or so it seemed.
Now, before we see what Jesus does, let me just give us a word of warning from the predicament Jesus finds himself in. If you follow Jesus you will be tested by those who will intentionally try to get you to compromise the truth. Some will try to get you to question God’s goodness. One common question they’ll ask: “If God is really good, then why does He allow evil and suffering in the world?“ Or they may question whether God is fair by asking, “What happens to those who never hear about Jesus?” Or “How can Jesus be the only way to God?” This second question is one of the most common questions asked by those who want to discredit your faith as being narrow-minded and judgmental. And if that doesn’t work, then they might question Scripture’s validity, by asking, “What about all the contradictions in the Bible?” The point behind all these questions or tests, is to try to trip you up because you can’t give them adequate answers. And even if you could, they would still not believe, simply because they don’t want to believe. Just like those who rejected Jesus. So be aware. If there were those who tried to trap Jesus, there will be those who will try to trip you up too.
Ok, let’s get back to our story. It seems these leaders have Jesus trapped. It seems they’ve won. Is there any way for Jesus to escape? How does He uphold the Law of Moses and the Roman law at the same time? Let’s just say it this way: Jesus is no one to mess with. Because when you mess with Jesus, he’ll wind up turning the tables. For that’s what we see now. Look now at verse 6 with me: But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. John 8:6-8
Here’s the million dollar question: What did Jesus write in the dust? Some say Jesus wrote out this Scripture: O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the dust, because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water. Jeremiah 17:12
Jesus had claimed to be the spring of living water just the day before. A claim only the Messiah could make. So, if he is truly the Messiah, then his writing in the dust confronts them with the reality that they have FORSAKEN God. Perhaps he is actually writing the names of those who were trying to trap them. So instead of them bringing shame on this woman in trying to trap Jesus, they’re actually bringing shame on themselves, because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.
Now others suggest that Jesus simply wrote out Scriptures like: “We all like sheep have gone astray.” Isaiah 53:6 or “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” Ecclesiastes 7:20 But whatever he wrote in the dust, he followed it with these words, “If anyone is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” And so, with these words Jesus turns the tables on the religious leaders. By saying these words Jesus upholds the Law of Moses by inviting anyone without sin to throw the first stone. And by saying these words Jesus calls their bluff, knowing that none of them could make this admission. And even if they could, to actually throw stones in order to exact justice, would bring down public shame on them, because the Romans would immediately arrest them. So, Jesus effectively turns the tables. He catches them in their own trap. So, they drop their stones and walk away…
Now, you’d think that would be the end of the story. But you’d be wrong. For this story is not simply how Jesus turns the tables on the religious leaders, but how Jesus turns the tables for condemned sinners.
Remember our original question: What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done? What’s one sin you are so ashamed of that if your friends found out they’d reject you? Here now stands a woman who’s beenobjectified and taken advantage of by the Jews. Here’s a woman who has been made to feel sub-human; a woman who has been publicly humiliated – a woman who stands condemned, without hope, and paralyzed by shame. A woman whose life was now in Jesus’ hands. So, what’s going to happen to her? What happens to her is what happens when mercy leads. Look now at verses 9-11, At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Remember what we learned earlier about the purpose of the Law? The purpose of the law is to show us our need for mercy. If there is one picture that you and I should hold firmly in our hearts today is this: – how Jesus gives mercy to this woman who had absolutely no hope. When the Jews used her to trap Jesus, they shamed her. But in her moment of disgrace, Jesus covers her with His grace. In her moment of condemnation – Jesus erases her past. He does not condemn her. But he doesn’t just change her past, he transforms her future. By giving her mercy he gives her a reason to stop sinning, saying “Go now andleave your life of sin.” For when mercy leads, Jesus sets her free to live a new life. She deserved death, but Jesus gave her life. That’s the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For when our sin leaves us condemned, when our sin leaves us without hope, the good news is that God, who is rich in mercy, turns the tables for us with the love of Jesus Christ!
This is what God did for us. When we were condemned, when we had no hope, God turned the tables for us by His mercy. Listen to how His mercy led God to do this: As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were bynature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5
That’s how mercy leads. God saw our hopeless plight. We deserved death; we deserved judgment; we deserved the wrath of God reserved for rebellious sinners. But out of His great love, God, who is rich in mercy, chose to withhold our judgment. Instead, He gave us mercy in Jesus Christ. Rather than leave us spiritual dead, He made us alive with Christ. This is the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God doesn’t withhold mercy from some kinds of sinners while extending it to others. Because He is rich in mercy, He pours out mercy to sinners one and all. Now, because mercy led God to send us Jesus:
No one is too lost for God to find.
No one is too dirty for God to cleanse.
No one is too broken for God to fix.
No one is to hurt for God to heal.
No one is too far gone for God to reach.
No one is too guilty for God to forgive.
No one is too sinful for God to save.
We are all the same at the foot of the cross. Every one of us needs mercy, because every one of us falls short of the glory of God. None of us is righteous. We are all like this condemned woman. Our fate is in the hands of Jesus. And if you believe in Jesus, then His mercy leads you to a whole new life with Him. A life where you don’t just leave your life of sin, but a life where you want to live and love just like Jesus. A life where you let mercy lead. That’s the whole point of the Gospel. Jesus gave us mercy when we had nowhere else to turn. Jesus gave us mercy when we deserved judgment. And now, because we’ve been changed by God’s mercy, we have the same opportunity to change the lives of others by giving them mercy. That’s what Jesus has been trying to teach His disciples throughout this Gospel. With Jesus, he always lets mercy lead. So, as we wrap up this amazing encounter with our merciful Jesus, let me share with you how letting mercy lead you will change how you interact with others.
First, when you let mercy lead, Mercy won’t let you remain indifferent to injustice Jesus knew this woman’s life was in his hands. The religious leaders who should have known better were treating her like dirt. But Jesus treated her with dignity. He doesn’t characterize her by her sin, but by her humanity. He calls her woman. Jesus sees her not as an adulterer, but as woman, created in the image and likeness of God. Do you remember how Jesus addressed his mother back at the Wedding in Cana? He called her, “woman.” But this was not a term of annoyance, but a term of affection. In her darkest hour, Jesus speaks to her with dignity and loving affection. This calls to mind how Jesus was described by Isaiah: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.” Isaiah 42:3
That’s how mercy leads. Mercy leads us to see every person we encounter, no matter how damaged or broken, as someone with eternal value in the eyes of God, and someone who deserves tenderhearted mercy, not condemnation. His mercy leads Him to treat the broken with dignity. The God we serve is not a throw-away God, but a God who sees every person as someone worth saving – a life worthy of redemption.
Secondly, when we let mercy lead, Mercy will lead us to love the rejected This woman had been rejected by those who loved the law rather than people. But Jesus refused to reject her because she’d done something wrong. This too should encourage us today. For Jesus reminds us, that no matter what you’ve ever done, no matter how badly you’ve sinned Jesus will not reject you. Jesus will not give up on you. We live in a world today that’s quick to condemn you if you don’t agree with them; but when we let mercy lead, we will not reject them. If Jesus didn’t reject the worst of sinners, then we must follow His lead. For He let mercy lead.
Thirdly, when we let mercy lead, we’ll never throw stones: If Jesus didn’t throw stones neither should we! This is a simple one, for when mercy leads there is no room for judgment. It is easy to judge, it is easy to be critical, it is easy to condemn. But what I love about Jesus is that He refuses to even go there. He did not come to judge us, but to save us. And what’s true about Jesus should be true about us. He didn’t throw stones. Stones were meant to kill. Mercy is about giving life. Therefore, judging others has no place in any relationship where mercy leads.
And finally, when we let mercy lead, Mercy should turn the tables on how we live Jesus didn’t condemn the woman because of her sin, but neither did he condone her behavior. Jesus gave the woman a reason to stop sinning. Jesus gave her a second chance at life. That’s what mercy does. When Jesus rescues us, He doesn’t condemn us, but sets us free. Such mercy should turn the tables on how we live. It should change us. As Paul reminds us in Romans 2, Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness,tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4 The good news you see, is that because of God’s mercy, even the worst sinner gets a clean slate, a second chance, a fresh start. That’s not just mercy, that’s amazing grace.
We have a God who is rich in mercy. And His mercy is available to anyone who’s ever sinned. There’s nothing you’ve done that Jesus cannot forgive. There’s no shame that He cannot remove. There’s no regret that He cannot redeem. And His mercy is still as rich and available today as the day He set this woman free. So, let me ask you this morning: Do you want God’s mercy in your life? If you do, His mercy is found in Jesus. For His mercy led him to say, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir.” “Then neither do I condemn you,” “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
For that’s how mercy leads.
Leave a Reply