Jesus Looking at His Own Cross

A Walk with John

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John 8:1-11

We are in a journey towards Calvary. We look at the cross on which Jesus was crucified from the perspective of different authors. We started with Paul, Isaiah, Luke, and today we continue with John.

In reality we are looking at events that happened before the trial and crucifixion of our Lord. Events that one can think have nothing to do with the cross.

We will take two stories.

Jesus demonstrates his grace toward a woman caught in adultery.

Jesus was at the Temple teaching. Most likely he was in the courtyard of the Temple. The Scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. How in the world did they catch her? Most likely this woman was well known! These people were not exactly interested in condemning this woman; they were actually planning a trap to put Jesus in a tough situation. What do I mean?

According to the Law of Moses, the woman and the man had to be put to death because they were caught in the act of adultery. One can observe that they only brought the woman. That says something…

Remember they were all under the Roman authorities. According to the Romans, only Romans were in charge of executions.

They wanted to see how Jesus was going to respond. If he agreed to put this woman to death, he would be in trouble with the Romans. If he rescued this woman from execution, he would be considered against Moses and the Law. Well planned trap.

Jesus looked at this event then he bent down and wrote on the ground. We don’t know what he wrote. Dr. Kenneth Bailey’s interpretation is what I want to bring forth. Bailey says Jesus wrote in Hebrew, or Aramaic, Hamouth, which means: DEATH.

So far the story is not unusual. Jesus knew the Law of Moses and that was the verdict according to the Law. Jesus is saying to the crowd, “This is the verdict and you want me to be in trouble with the Roman authorities, fine.” The method of execution is stoning. So he said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” In other words, “Gentlemen, who will be the one to join me to go to jail?” Only the Romans could carry out executions.

You all know what happened next. One by one they left.

Where is the cross in this event?

The woman was observing all this. She saw how Jesus humiliated these people in their courtyard, in their Temple. She knew that this was not the end. They would come again to take Jesus down.

The response of Jesus is very important. “Where are the ones who condemned you? Where are those who rejected you?” “They are gone,” answers the woman. “I will not condemn you either. Yet, I also do not agree with your lifestyle. Go and do not sin.”

As in last Sunday’s sermon, we see Jesus absorbing the hatred of the people towards this woman. We see him absorbing our guilt, our shame. This is leading Jesus towards the cross which the ultimate expression of his costly love towards us.

We will continue in English.