Light in the Darkness

There is a story recorded in John Chapter 8 that is widely known and used for sermon material.  As a race we love the underdog story and Jesus is our champion in this story as he rescues a poor woman from the religious zealots who want her killed for her sin of adultery.  Oh, that feeling of pride we get when He somehow mystically rebukes them and they drop their stones and wander off, defeated again by the power of God in Christ.  Its a feel good story with redemption, and a twinge of justice.  Most church attendees have had to sit under a few brow beatings about sin and wickedness and possibly even a message of redemption distilled from these verses.  Modern religious ideas even use them to champion whatever cause they are trying to defend.  But are we missing the point of the story entirely or even in great part?

It is a common issue that I have trumpeted, perhaps to the point of ad nauseam for some, that we "cherry pick" what we want the bible to say in order to make our point.  Most don't believe they are doing that until it is shown to them and then many still deny.  The context of the verses determine the interpretation and pulling them apart to use certain verses is most dangerous and completely out of the nature of sacred writings in general.  So, again I ask, are we missing the point?

Lets examine the text for a moment and see what is happening.  A woman caught in the very act of adultery was brought before Jesus in order to try and use her as leverage against Him, most of us know that.  Jesus does not answer them verbally but kneels and writes something in the sand.  He then offers that the one who has no sin in his life cast the first stone at the woman.  One by one they drop their stones and walk away, apparently silent.  Justice wins, we all celebrate.  Jesus asks her where are her accusers, is there no one to condemn her?  She responds with a, "No one, Lord."  True to His very nature He responds with, "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more."  Celebrations continue and many now see Jesus affirming her and giving her a pat on the back to go back to her lifestyle.  Those nasty zealots are now dealt with and she has no worries.

I find it interesting that He did not say to her that she was fine, God loved her just like she was, whatever her truth was is OK.  To the contrary He, Himself, said that what she was doing was sin.  He did not deny this, it was written in their law.  No law vs. grace discussion, no covenental theology class, only an acknowledgement that she knew it was wrong and an encouragement not to continue in it.  I believe the next verse is the key to this passage.   

It begins with "Then" which indicates that something was done "then."  The next recorded words He spoke were these:  "I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  A profound statement in this context.  This passage began with the argument that Jesus could not be a prophet as He was from Galilee and no prophet ever came from there. There was division among the religious leaders about who He was and what authority He actually could have.  Bringing the woman before Him and trying to use her to trip Him up in matters of the law so as to discredit Him was their intention.  Jesus then uses the event to open the discussion He needed to have about who He really was.  

He answers their query with "I am the light of the world" and then proceeds to show what that means.  I have encountered this woman who was clearly in sin.  She is not condemned nor is she affirmed in her sin.  She has met truth and been made free.  Now she is encouraged to go and not continue in her sin.  There was no mention of her rights or her genetic disposition.  The truth makes you free.  He is truth.  He is light.  Those who walk with Him will have the light of life and will not walk in darkness.  Encountering Truth will do this for you.  Truth did not come to justify our lifestyles and choices.  He came to set us free so that we no longer walked in the darkness of feeling we are separate from Him which leads us to destruction.  Walking out of those lifestyle choices is evidence of the Love of God which has the power to change us, not to reinforce our issues.  The beauty of His light is that He walks with us as we walk this thing out in our individual lives, always leading us to abandon darkness and embrace light.