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The Trap and The Truth

Dec 7, 2025    Pastor Kevin Lawson

This powerful message takes us into one of the most compelling trap scenarios in Scripture—the woman caught in adultery from John 8:1-11. What unfolds is a masterclass in divine wisdom as religious leaders attempt to corner Jesus with a question: should this woman be stoned according to the Law of Moses, or should she be shown mercy? Either answer would seemingly discredit Him—condemning her would violate Roman law, while showing mercy would appear to contradict Jewish law. Yet Jesus does something remarkable: He kneels twice before this nameless woman in humility, writes mysteriously in the dirt, and speaks words that pierce every heart present: 'Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.' One by one, from oldest to youngest, the accusers drop their stones and walk away, convicted by their own conscience. The silence is deafening as stones hit the ground—stones that were meant to kill, now abandoned by those who realized their own guilt. But here's the crucial truth we cannot miss: Jesus doesn't just forgive this woman and walk away. His final words are essential: 'Go and leave your life of sin.' Grace is freely given, but it calls us to transformation. We learn that while Jesus is the only one without sin who could have cast judgment, He chose instead to take our punishment upon Himself at the cross. This challenges us to examine the stones we hold in our own hands—the judgments we're ready to cast on others—and recognize that conviction should lead us away from sin and closer to Christ.