(Sample script from my podcasts on the gospel of John. You can access them here.)

John 8:1-11

… Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Let me ask you. What do you think the motive and interests is, in the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees? Do you think they have a healthy interest in the soul of this woman, or the standards of the community? Other questions come up. Why are they not following the due process legislated by the law of Moses? And, where is the man who was with this woman?

Isn’t it clear, these men are not righteous defenders of the law! They are not leaders in maintaining holiness and moral purity! They are after Jesus. They want to get him out of the way. They see him as a threat. The woman and her sin – incidental to their primary interests; a tool in their efforts to damage Jesus.

Now, Jesus makes it clear that adultery is sinful. He told her to go and sin no more. But Jesus didn’t come to earth to carry out executions, certainly in a case like this with all the tactical blunders of these hypocrites. By the way, there was no qualified executioner, even if there had been due process.

So, another episode that shows the intensity of opposition toward Jesus, who is steadfast, perfectly composed and undefeatable. Now let’s go, and sin no more.