John

Check out all the previous John readings here.

John Reading Plan | Week 13, Day 1

Prayer

As you spend time with Jesus, allow your mind and body to settle until you feel fully present. Ask Him to help you learn more about Him today.

Bible Reading: John 8:1-11

Read these verses three times slowly.

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Reflection & Questions

This week, we turn back the pages a bit in John and dig into John chapter 8. In this chapter, the Pharisees are turning up the heat on Jesus trying to trap Him, and in return Jesus gets very clear with them. After this week, it will be very clear why the Pharisees wanted Jesus dead.

Today’s verses start with the woman caught in adultery. There is no doubt about her sin. There is no doubt about the consequence: death. However, the Pharisees aren’t really interested in that. They are trying to trap Jesus, “in order to have a basis for accusing him.” Jesus seems to act disinterested in their traps. He just writes on the ground – John doesn’t tell us what He was writing, because it doesn’t matter – it is the fact that He doesn’t really give them the attention they are so craving. But what would Jesus do? The law demands her death (not to mention the man involved as well). Jesus’ response is just what you’d expect from the wisdom of God. “ “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Of course, none could claim that, so they all left one by one.

His instructions to the woman? “Go and leave your life of sin.” He sets her free of her penalty, but also, amazingly, free of her life of sin. She doesn’t need to sin anymore. She doesn’t need to go to the well of adultery to try to find satisfaction. She has found grace, mercy and freedom in the person of Jesus Christ.

1. What word or phrase in these verses sticks out to you in these verses? Why?
2. What “wells” do you go to for satisfaction besides Jesus? How is that working for you?

Prayer

Pray in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?