He Stooped to Redeem

John 8:1-11 “Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Text John 8:6&8 “But Jesus stooped down” “And again he stooped down”

Within the text, Jesus’ real confrontation was not with the legalists, but the law. It was the law that Jesus must answer, “the law commanded” (vs.5). While the legalist exposed her, the law would execute her! What Jesus would do for the woman, He would do for all of Adam’s race, He stooped! “Jesus stooped down” in obedience to the precepts of the law, “But made himself of no reputation . . . and was made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7). Making His way through a virgin’s womb, Jesus, God in the flesh, lived and walked upon this earth in complete obedience to every precept and principle of the law. This qualified Him to be the sinless sacrifice for all men! The word of an earthly sovereign was “I find no fault in this man” (Luke 23:4). The word of an Eternal Sovereign was “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).

“And again he stooped down” in obedience to the punishment of the law, “He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). Paul said, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). Being our sinless sacrifice, Jesus bore our sins to Calvary and there He died in our stead satisfying the righteous demands of the law. He stooped not once, but twice and when He arose the last time there were none to accuse, “where are those thine accusers?” (John 8:10). The accused exchanged the guilt of the law for the liberties of grace because He stooped to redeem!