John 7:50-53 - The woman caught in adultery?

7:50-52

Nicodemus, who we met in chapter 3, spoke up. He did not directly defend Jesus but did seek to get Him a fairer hearing. The Law required that an accused person be given the opportunity to defend himself, but the religious leaders were denying Jesus even this. The Pharisees had no time for this, they had condemned Jesus and that was that. When people oppose God they do not act rationally, so we should not be surprised when opponents act unfairly or illogically.

7:53

This next incident is one of the most well known. It is also highly likely that it was not part of John’s gospel. In most versions you will see a note at 7:53, and or a footnote, saying something like “the earliest manuscripts do not include 7:53-8:11”. I think the first manuscript of John to include this come from the late fourth or fifth century. Some manuscript add the passage after John 7:36 or 21:25, some even add it after Luke 21:38. So what are we to make of this? Some  say they would not preach on this passage. I think this is going a little far. The character of Jesus presented in this incident is entirely consistent with everything else we know about Him. Moreover, the story rings true. So it may well be that it records a genuine incident in Jesus’ life, it is just that it wasn’t originally in John’s gospel. It is also important to look at it as the incident is misrepresented by many (usually opponents of Christianity) and is particularly relevant in the light of current debates on sexual morality.