Convicted and Leaving One by One - John 8:9

The apostle John wrote how, “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 say you? 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 in chapter eight and verse nine of his book John shared how, “they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last:” John began with the words, “And they which heard it” which means “and the scribes and Pharisees who were endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceived, understood, discovered and discerned what Jesus said”, “being convicted” or “existing as refuted, exposed, corrected and finding fault” “by their own conscience” which means “with the religious leaders' own personal souls which distinguish between what is morally good and bad”, “went out one by one” or “left and departed one religious leader after another”, “beginning at the eldest” which means “starting with the oldest, advanced in age and highest in rank and honor as overseer”, “even to the last” or “until the uttermost, end, least in rank and honor or lowest among the religious leaders”. John shared how every one of the “religious leaders” were “convicted” in their hearts concerning their own “sins”, and they began to leave Jesus and the woman “one by one” starting with the oldest or most important among them until the youngest or least important left as well.

The verse goes on to say, “and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” John continued with the words, “and Jesus” which means “and the Son of God, the Savior of the world and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “was left alone” or “was forsaken and abandoned by Himself”, “and the woman” which means “along with the woman who was caught in the act of adultery” “standing in the midst” or “still standing in the middle of Jesus and where the religious leaders used to be”. John shared how only “Jesus” and the “woman caught in adultery” were “left” when the “scribes and Pharisees” departed.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how every one of the “scribes and Pharisees” left Jesus and the woman after they were “convicted” of their own “sins”. Jesus and the woman caught in adultery remained in their place, and Jesus will minister to her in our next few verses. Those who are wise will consider Jesus' challenge and imagine themselves being among the “religious leaders”. Would anyone find themselves not guilty of any “sin”? Perhaps this will help all who read these words will understand the primary role of Jesus was to be the “Savior and Lord” of the world, and they may submit their lives to Him to be forgiven of their errors and wrongs.

Next time John shares how Jesus asks the woman, “where are those your accusers?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".