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Jesus and Women – The Adulteress

Jesus and Women – The Adulteress

Jesus and Women – The Adulteress. 

“When Jesus had stood up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’” (John 8:10-11).

Please read the story of Jesus and the adulteress in John 8:3-11.

Pastor Jack was just finishing his sermon on Matthew 7:1-5 when the Elder Board suddenly appeared at the back of the sanctuary. They were holding onto a frightened young woman and began marching her up to the front pew, right in front of the altar. They stood there without speaking for a moment, and the congregation was puzzled, to say the least. The chairman of the Elders finally broke the silence. “We are here to bring charges against Mary here. We want her excommunicated from the church, now! She and her boyfriend made a sex tape of all things, and put it on social media! She does not deserve to be a part of this congregation. We want her shunned and expelled from the church. Not only that, but we believe that God is directing us to hound her until her life is destroyed. We are going to tell her landlord, and her boss, and her parents. We won’t be satisfied until she runs away and never comes back. So Pastor, do you agree with  us in our judgment? Will you help us make her regret the day she was born for doing such a despicable thing?

Jack was unruffled, he wasn’t put off balance or perturbed in any way. He calmly looked at all the elders, one by one. Instead of responding, he started writing notes on his notepad, as though he didn’t really hear what the chairman said. This only agitated the elders even more, and they all raised their voices by condemning the woman for her actions. They accused her of gross and vile immorality, and wanted to see her punished to the extreme.

Pastor Jack quietly glanced at his notes on his pad, and cleared his throat to speak. He simply, but with authority, told the elders standing there, “Those of you who haven’t sinned at a weak moment, go ahead and start the process of expelling her.” Then Jack resumed his note-writing.

The chairman was dumfounded, and then was unsure of what to do. After complete silence in the sanctuary, he turned and slowly walked to the back of the church and out the door. Soon, all the elders followed him, until the only ones standing there at the front were Mary and Pastor Jack. He tenderly asked her, “Where are all your accusers? Is there no one left to condemn you?” Mary quietly responded, “There is no one, Pastor.” Jack put his  hand of blessing on her head and said to her, “I don’t condemn you either. Now, go in peace, and don’t sin like that anymore.” Pastor then closed the service with his customary blessing… ‘May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Some church members were outraged at the apparent lack of accountability. Other members were thrilled at the Pastor’s compassion. Pastor Jack’s next sermon was on Matthew 21: 31, “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you!”