“Where are your accusers?”

If you’ve ever been defined by your worst mistake – or by someone else’s opinion – this Sunday is for you.

This Week’s Study Guide

Scripture: John 8:1–11

(Read slowly. Imagine the tension, the crowd, the silence.)

1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and, making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Reflection:

Jesus protects her before he says a word to her.

And when Jesus finally speaks, his words are of restoration.

Questions for Reflection or Small Group:

1.   Whose voice have you let define you? God’s or your accusers’?
2.   What would it look like to live as someone forgiven?
3.   Who in your life needs the same grace Jesus showed here?

Spiritual Practice for the Weekend:

Write down a lie you’ve believed about yourself: something shaming, limiting, or wounding.

Then cross it out and write over it:

“Neither do I condemn you.”

Let that truth carry you into Sunday.