OPEN ARMS

JESUS THE SAVIOR

Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines

Lesson 7

OPEN ARMS

Aim:  That the learners will trust Jesus to accept them, whoever they are.

Scripture: John 8:3-11

Memory Verse: John 6:37b – Whoever comes to me I will never drive away. (NIV)

In Advance

1.      Pray

2.      Memorize John 6:37b

3.      Study John 8:3-11

Background of the Scripture passage used:

      The daily ministry of Jesus included being with all kinds of people.  On occasions where He talked with people the Scribes and Pharisees questioned Him about issues related to the Mosaic Law.  Most of the time they just wanted to find fault by using questions as a trap in order to have a basis to accuse Him.  Once such incident happened when Jesus was at the temple courts.  Scribes and Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.

CLASS SESSION

ENTRANCE

      Ask learners to give their usual reactions to the presence of a crazy person in the community.  Ask further the different attitudes of people toward a crazy man.  (Possible reactions: They make fun of them; they ridicule; they are hostile; they pity, etc.)

Transition Sentence: Today we will study how Jesus responded to someone unacceptable to most people.

SUBSTANCE

            Pray for understanding first.  Then have someone volunteer to read the passage aloud.  Do a group study.

Questions for everyone (to be written on the board)

1.      How was the question of the teachers of the law and of the Pharisees (v.5) a trap for Jesus? (cf. John 18:31)

Answer:  The Romans did not follow the Jews to carry out death sentences. If Jesus had said they should stone her.  He could have been in conflict with the Romans.  If He had said not to stone her, He could have been accused of being unsupportive of the Law.  (Note: we do not know what He wrote on the ground with His finger.)

2.      Evaluate Jesus’ response (vv.7-9).

Answer: The question backfired on those who asked.  Jesus’ answer disarmed them.  Since He spoke of throwing a stone, He could not be accused of failure to uphold the Law.  But the qualification of throwing it prevented any of them from acting.  They began to go away one at a time because they were not “without sin.”  The older ones must have been the first to realize what was involved.

3.      Jesus in John 1:14 and 17 is described to have been full of “grace and truth.”  How is this seen in Jesus’ response to the adulterous woman?

Answer: The response was full of grace.  He was merciful and He accepted the woman just as she was.  He did not condemn her.  He took her side against her merciless accusers.  But His response was also full of truth.  Verse 11 shows that He did not condone her way of life and wanted her transformed.

Note:     “Woman” was not a harsh form of address during Jesus’ time.

General Truth: Jesus accepts anyone who comes to Him, no matter who he is.

SIGNIFICANCE

Questions for everyone (oral):

1.      Why do we hesitate to quickly and openly forgive even those we love?

Answers:

a.         They might think we don’t consider their offense grievous.

b.        They might keep on doing it again.

c.         We don’t struggle over the same sin they had.

2.      In the story we studied, what do you think was the result in the woman’s life?

(Allow any answers)

3.      How does the way Jesus treated this woman affect you in facing some sins you struggle with?

Does His acceptance free you to change or does it reinforce your bad behavior?

(Allow any answer which may be orally shared.  A short time of silence will suffice if no learner volunteers to speak out his response.)

Note:        God’s love is unconditional (Romans 5:8).  It does not demand change.  But it produces change in people.  Love begets love.  We love Him because He first loved us (1John 4:19).

PERFORMANCE

            Give the class time to pray silently.  Challenge them to accept Christ’s love and forgiveness.  Challenge them also to forgive themselves and others.

            Lead the class in singing the hymn, Just As I Am.

JUST AS I AM

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Though bid’st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not,

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, Though wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Hath broken every barrier down!

Now to be Thine, yea Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!