“An important lesson we may forget”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Wednesday, December 7, 2022

John 7:53-8:11 (Forward, p. 39) CEV p. 1111

Today’s passage is most important, and interesting, but not simply because of its content and message. It is also one of those ‘orphan’ passages of Scripture, a passage that seemed to be ‘without a home’, that is, a fixed location, but, according to most manuscripts, nevertheless too important to discard. That is why this story can be found in four different places within the early Greek documents, here in its present place, after John 7:36, after John 21:25 or after Luke 21:38. However, that textual difficulty is actually of fairly small importance in the overall scheme of things.

What is truly important and significant about this story is that Jesus effectively demonstrates that a person is no longer to be bound by his or her past, that today—in fact, even this very moment—can be a brand-new start. A person, any person, can start all over again, beginning right now.

That is why Jesus could say to this woman, caught in the very act of adultery, ‘go and sin no more.’ The past was no longer going to be held against her, at least as far as God, as far as Jesus, was concerned.

But then, there is another factor, one that rarely if ever gets raised. (Or, at very least, I have never seen it mentioned). It is the question of how she might react henceforth. We may well be forgiven by God, but do we always forgive ourselves? And, given the shame and embarrassment and the public humiliation, how was she going to deal with that? Would not the community remember that, and would not she remember it all too well as well? And yes, given the injustice of her being exposed and brought to account for her indiscretion when her ‘partner in crime’ went scot free, would there not be a simmering anger and resentment over this unfair treatment? And then, what about that clandestine affair, that relationship: how was she going to deal with that, resolve that, put it to an end?

The reality is that God’s forgiveness, His setting us free from the penalty of sin and erasing it forever, is only the beginning. What truly matters is how we go from there, how we live henceforth in the freedom and the brand-new start that this forgiveness now affords us. The future, as far as God is concerned, begins right now. That is the important lesson of this story. Amen.

Forward notes: “When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her’” (John 8:7).

“I’m a volunteer chaplain in the county court system. I hear gruesome details of drug-fueled crimes. And then, I get up and walk out to the lobby to talk and pray with the accused.

“It’s difficult not to judge, especially after a prosecutor has revealed specific details. In the lobby, my work is to companion the accused toward recovery, health, and wholeness. I’m not to add additional judgment.

“On any given day, I come face to face with people who need to repent and sin no more, because, as Jesus says, if they do, they will regain their dignity and set their feet on a new path.”

Moving Forward: “How can you keep from judging your neighbour? Consider adding a daily prayer for strength and understanding.”