A Throwaway Woman: Redeemed by Christ - Wednesday 23rd

Some people just don’t make it.  They are mentally ill, low in intelligence, or uneducated, possibly socially inept, lacking self-confidence, or physically disabled, perhaps they are stuck in various forms of addiction. Capable people moving all around them going here, going there, always seemingly in a rush.  But these “throwaway people” hover at the edges of society, unnoticed and undervalued by their busy counterparts.

What kind of people does society tend to “throwaway”?

Think of several types of people that you tend to avoid.  Why do you avoid these people?

Are you refusing to help because you know that you cannot solve their big problems?

Are you protecting yourself? From what?

In all of his relationships Jesus showed a different value system from that of society in which he lived.

Read John 8:1-11

What event led to Christ’s meeting with the woman?

Most of us have had at least one occasion when we felt that we were treated like trash.  What effect does that kind of experience have on you?

Leviticus 20:10 “if a man commits adultery with another man’s wife – with the wife of his neighbor – both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death” is the law these religious leaders had in mind.  In view of that law, why do you think that they brought the woman but not the man?

Why was their question a trap?  The Hebrew law demanded the death penalty however the Roman political law denied enforcement.  So if Jesus allowed the stoning he could have been tried in Roman courts for murder, If he failed to uphold the Hebrew law he could have been tried in Jewish courts for Heresy.

How did Christ’s actions show that the woman was not a throwaway?

Jesus spoke to both the woman and the religious leaders about sin. Why?

Jesus showed he valued the woman even though the temple leaders did not.  What difference does it make to you that Christ values you – no matter what you have done?

How can you treat people who enter your life in a way that mirrors Christ?

Read aloud verse 10 – 11 as if Jesus was speaking directly to you, let God search your own heart and receive his forgiveness.