1. 1 The Right Attitude John 7:53 – 8:11 All About the Story Not a “Thing”

2. 2 The Right Attitude John 7:53 – 8:11 All About the Story  Problems with the text 1.It is an old story included by some early on 2.It fits the pattern of John and fills a void 3.May have been omitted early on for cultural reasons linked to paganism – Augustine 4.It is true to Christ’s nature

3. 3 The Right Attitude John 7:53 – 8:11 All About the Story  The story reveals sin’s horror  The point is not the woman but the men  A trap was “set-up” for Jesus  Multiple witnesses were necessary  The men’s dishonesty is very overt  Jesus turns the tables

4. 4 The Right Attitude John 7:53 – 8:11 All About the Story  The God of circumstances  What was at stake? the life of the woman the teaching of Jesus about compassion the divinely given Law of Moses  Problem – how can God show love to the sinner without being unjust?

5. 5 The Right Attitude John 7:53 – 8:11 All About the Story  The God of second chances  Jesus speaks to the woman  No condemnation – therefore faith  Stop sinning as a result of faith  Not – sin no more and I will not condemn you

6. 6 The Right Attitude John 7:53 – 8:11 Not a “Thing”  The attitude of the Jewish rulers  Rulers tried to use the woman – a thing  Obvious set-up  Woman was probably young – stoning, comparing Lev. 20:10 with Deut. 22:23-24  Rulers also used the Word of God

7. 7 The Right Attitude John 7:53 – 8:11 Not a “Thing”  The attitude of Jesus  Characterized by understanding  Characterized by compassion  Characterized by forgiveness  Characterized by challenge

8. 8 The Right Attitude John 7:53 – 8:11 Application What is your place in this story? Are you like the crowd who stood watching? Are you like the crowd who stood watching? Are you like the rulers who use people and never stop to hear the words of Jesus? Are you like the rulers who use people and never stop to hear the words of Jesus? Are you like the woman who heard and received the Gospel message? Are you like the woman who heard and received the Gospel message?

9. 9 The Right Attitude John 7:53 – 8:11 Application Do you treat people like things to be manipulated and controlled? Do you have genuine compassion for others? … in spite of their wrong choices? This “Jesus compassion” only comes from communing with our Father!