December 27, 2009
Morning Service

St.Jn. 8:1-11

 

Review:

1.       Another year goes by, and we once again review the glorious story of our Savior’s birth.  This builds our faith that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ that was to come into the world to save all mankind from their sins.

2.      I think one of the things that we can work on this up coming year is concentrating on what Christmas is really all about.  It is no great mystery that the world has taken over Christmas for a time of commercialism.  We look forward to receiving gifts, rather than giving them.

3.      We receive gifts on our birthday, what did we get Jesus for His birthday?  Did we sing Him a special song?  Did we do something special for someone in need, in His name?  Did we give Him special thanks for doing what He did for us?  Did we visit the sick, the elderly?  You get the idea, it should be about Jesus, not anyone else.  Paul told the Ephesian elders;  Act 20:35 KJVR  I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

4.      Was it in our hearts to give, rather than looking forward to the gifts we were going to receive? 

5.      We all look forward to receiving a gift, but let’s concentrate this year on giving, more than receiving!

6.     Two great men made statements in my lifetime that I will never forget;  One was Martin Luther King Jr. when he said, “anyone can be great, because we all can be servants.”  Referring to what Jesus told His disciples when they ask Him for greatness.  Jesus said, “Mat 23:11  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”

7.     Then John F. Kennedy, when he said; “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”  Do you see how each of these fits in to our service to God, and His church?  I’m sure we can.

8.     It’s just 5 days and we enter into 2010.  Just two years away from the much waited for 2012.  Each year should be much anticipated, and looked forward too.  Another year and opportunity to serve, and draw closer to our Lord.

 

Today we will continue our study in the book of St. Jn. We are ready for chapter eight.  As I mentioned earlier, Jesus came into this world to save the people from their sins, and today we have a classic example of that very thing.   Let’s pray.

 

We left chapter seven with the people, and their leaders being confused over who Jesus truly was.  Their final comment was, “for no prophet has came from Galilee.”  Then they went home.

 

Joh 8:1-11 MKJV  But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  (2)  And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him. And He sat down and taught them.  (3)  And the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman taken in adultery. And standing her in the midst,  (4)  they said to Him, Teacher, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  (5)  Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such should be stoned. You, then, what do you say? 

• Moses in chapter 20 of the book of Leviticus explains many things that people should not do, and the penalty for doing them; Lev 20:10 MKJV  And a man who commits adultery with a man's wife, who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
• One of the first things Jesus addresses in His sermon on the mount was adultery.  He actually magnifies the law at this point;  Mat 5:27-28 MKJV  You have heard that it was said to the ancients, "You shall not commit adultery."  (28)  But I say to you that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  And in verse 32;  Mat 5:32 MKJV  But I say to you that whoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever shall marry her who is put away commits adultery.

This woman was definitely wrong in what she had done.  Guilty as charged.  However, the lesson that is being taught here is that of forgiveness, and mercy.

(6)  They said this, tempting Him so that they might have reason to accuse Him. But bending down, Jesus wrote on the ground with His finger, not appearing to hear.  (7)  But as they continued to ask Him, He lifted Himself up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.  (8)  And again bending down, He wrote on the ground.  (9)  And hearing, and being convicted by conscience, they went out one by one, beginning at the oldest, until the last.

• Paul said, “we have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God.”  “there is none righteous, no not one.”
• But what has happened in this woman’s life to have led her to this sin?

1. She has fallen into complacency.  She has left her relationship with God.  Allowed apathy to set in.  She has quit doing the things that keeps you close to God.  In our lives today it would be quit reading the Bible, and talking to the Word.  Praying.  Being faithful to the assembly.  Listening to satan, and not to the Lord.  Looking for ways to be helpful to others.
2. She may have had a husband who didn’t treat her like he should’ve. 
3. She was seeking fleshly fulfillment, rather than seeking to please God.
4. Walking after the things of the flesh, rather than walking after the things of the Spirit.

And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  (10)  And bending back up, and seeing no one but the woman, Jesus said to her, Woman, where are the ones who accused you? Did not one give judgment against you?  (11)  And she said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said to her, Neither do I give judgment. Go, and sin no more.

• The wisdom of the Lord has prevented this woman from being stoned.  But no one brought judgment against her.
• He has done the same thing for us, for we are all sinners saved by His wonderful grace.
• Jesus said in another place, “all manner of sin, and blasphemy shall be forgiven to man, except blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.”
• All, means all.  It means adultery, stealing, lying, murder, it means all.  You have not committed a sin that Jesus will not pardon.  You have not committed a sin that the blood of Jesus won’t wash away.

But notice:

Jesus says “Go, and sin no more.”   The Hebrew writer said, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run the race that is set before us with patience.”

 

Jesus told the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda, “Joh 5:14 MKJV  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, Behold, you are made whole. Sin no more lest a worse thing come to you.”

 

So what ever weight, or sin that you have been forgiven of, Jesus tells us the same thing, “go and sin no more.”

 

I forgive you, but go and sin no more.

 

Don’t allow apathy to set in, stay busy for the Lord, strive to be that good, and perfect servant.

 

As Paul said, 1Co 15:58 MKJV  So that, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not without fruit in the Lord.