0405 Lent V: Saved by Bad Grammar

order to understand the text appointed for today, it is helpful to step back a bit and understand something of the context in which it is set. When we do, we find some rather surprising and unsettling things. Let’s say, for example, that you, as a presbyter, are in your study, minding your own business, when suddenly group of people burst in. It’s quite a ruckus, but you finally understand they are accusing a woman in their midst of sexual immorality - not just the internet kind, but full-blown, caught-in-the-act infidelity against her husband. All the people involved are members of your church. The woman hasn’t darkened the church doors too often, but the accusers are to a man faithful workers and financial contributors. Furthermore, you know the accusation is true. What do you do? According to the text that immediately precedes the verses from the Gospel read today, you pardon the woman who doesn’t even ask for it, and you damn the believers. At least, that’s what Jesus did. And yes, I did say that He condemned the believers and pardoned the sinner. This just does not seem right, yet here it is in Scripture, plain as day. Jesus just will not stay put in our little box that we build for Him.

The Scripture read today is from the end of chapter 8 of St John’s Gospel. Backing up to the beginning of that chapter we find the familiar story of the woman caught in adultery. The men snatch her up in the very act - what were they doing sneaking around her bedroom window, anyway? - and fling her at Jesus’ feet, demanding judgment. This was a trap for Jesus, of course. If He said to stone her, they could accuse Him before the Romans of breaking their law, since the Romans forbad the Jews from imposing the death penalty. On the other hand, if He said let her go, they could accuse Him of direct violation of Lev 20:10:

the adulteress[,] shall surely be put to death.

Either way, they get rid of Him. This is where we get one of the many famous quotes from Jesus:

He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. (v7)

Of course, her accusers melt away. With no one left to accuse her, He dismisses the case, refusing to press charges Himself.

III. Second Context: The Fight

Right after this, St John reports Jesus as cryptically saying:

I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. v12

Now what does this have to do with the woman caught in adultery? Surely it’s true, but why did Jesus choose this context to make this announcement? Seems kind of strange counsel to give right after a case of sexual immorality is brought before you. Actually, this was directed not at the woman, but at the Jews who had brought the woman in the first place. Jesus went back to them to "pick a fight" as it were. It became a Battle Royal. The Scriptures in Ex 13:21 clearly proclaimed that God was the "pillar of fire" that illuminated their way; now Jesus was claiming He was that light. Jesus’ claims were simply not credible to the Jews. God was from eternity past; Jesus was born just a few years ago. How could He claim to be the light that lights the world? Furthermore, where was eternal life to be found but in obedience to the Torah - which is what the Jews called the Law? Just a cursory reading of the Law and the Prophets showed that God repeatedly judged