Unashamed Reading Plan – W5D3
Check out all the previous Unashamed readings here.
Unashamed Reading Plan | Week 5 | Day 3
Prayer
Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Pray that God would open your eyes to wonderful things from His word 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
We’ve been considering this week how the freedom we have in Christ compels us to lead behind sin and live on purpose for Jesus. Today’s story is a beautiful example of this working out in a woman’s life.
We don’t know her name, but we know she was being used as a pawn by the religious leaders to try to catch Jesus out. She was certainly lost in sin – she was caught in adultery. She was looking for love in all the wrong places. The law demanded her death for her actions. The religious leaders knew Jesus loved this woman and wouldn’t want to stone her – so they seized this moment to show that Jesus was a law-breaker.
But, how they won’t learn that they can’t out-smart the Maker of the Universe. Jesus simply replies, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” If they are going to sit in judgment, they better be pure themselves. Genius. There’s only One qualified to sit in judgment and he doesn’t condemn her (for he knows that he will be killed, paying the price for her sin). But He doesn’t leave her with forgiveness. He says, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” His forgiveness isn’t a license to carry on, but a chance for freedom to live a whole new life. A life of freedom.
- What word or phrase from these verses sticks out to you? Why?
- Do you need to come before Jesus with an area of compromise in your life? Talk to HIm about that.
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus 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
We have been learning about how when we choose to accept the salvation that is given to us by Christ, then we will work hard to leave sin behind us and to live on purpose for Jesus. Today’s story is a great example of that in a woman’s life.
We don’t know this woman’s name, but we know she was being used by the religious leaders to try to catch Jesus – it was supposed to be a trick question that they asked Him. She had made a bad decision and was supposed to be punished for her sin. The law said that she was supposed to be stoned to death. The religious leaders knew that Jesus loved this woman and wouldn’t want to stone her so they decided to try to show everyone that Jesus was a law-breaker.
When will these religious leaders learn that they cannot out-smart the Maker of the Universe?! Jesus simply replies, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” If they are going to be giving out a judgment and disciplining her by stoning her, they had better be pure and innocent themselves! Genius.
There is only One who is qualified to give judgment and He doesn’t condemn her for the sin she committed. (Hint – it’s Jesus). He already knows that he will end up being killed on the cross, paying for her sin then. When everyone leaves and it’s just Jesus and the woman, he says, “Go on and leave your life of sin.” He doesn’t just forgive her and then let her go on living the sinful life like she was doing. He tells her to change her ways and live a whole new life: a life of freedom.
- Is there a sin in your life that you are having a difficult time resisting?
Pray
Ask God to help you with a particular sin you are struggling with. Ask Him for forgiveness and thank Him for the freedom that comes with forgiveness.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
