The Woman Caught in Adultery—John 7:52–8:12

Pastor Gillespie of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church delivers a devotional reflection on John 7:52–8:12, the story of the woman caught in adultery, using it as a lens to explore how Christians should speak—both with mercy and with direct, declarative truth. He begins with a role-playing exercise to illustrate Jesus’ unique speech: forgiving without condition, comforting without platitudes, and confronting sin without evasion. The central theme is that Christian speech must be grounded in God’s Word, not in cultural niceties or fear of offense. Pastor Gillespie emphasizes that Jesus speaks not in hopes or vague sentiments, but in definitive declarations—'I forgive you,' 'Do not be afraid,' 'Go and sin no more.' He unpacks the story of the woman caught in adultery as a powerful example of divine mercy and judgment, showing how Jesus, by writing on the ground, exposes the accusers’ own sinfulness and silences their condemnation. The sermon concludes with a call to speak truth in love, rooted in the gospel, and to embrace the paradox of proclaiming both forgiveness and repentance with courage and clarity.