In John 8:1-11, we find one of the most profound displays of grace in the Bible. Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders who bring before Him a woman caught in adultery. Their intent is clear: trap Jesus in a legal and moral dilemma. But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, offers a response that not only disarms the accusers but also transforms the life of the accused.

Grace, by definition, is unmerited favor. It is God giving us what we don’t deserve. And in this passage, we see a grace that goes beyond human understanding—a grace so profound and undeserved that it can only be described as gross grace. This grace is greater than any sin, any failure, and any guilt.

Resist the Urge to Condemn (vv. 3–7)

“Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’”

The religious leaders were eager to condemn this woman. They weren’t interested in justice or righteousness; they were interested in trapping Jesus and making someone else’s sin look worse than their own. They wanted to throw stones, both literally and figuratively.

In today’s world, we see the same spirit of condemnation. People are quick to judge and eager to tear others down. Social media, gossip, and criticism have become tools to expose the flaws of others. But Jesus shows us a different way.

When confronted with the opportunity to condemn, Jesus stooped down and wrote in the sand. He didn’t respond immediately. He didn’t join the crowd of stone throwers. Instead, He offered silence and reflection.

We need to do more sand writing. When faced with gossip, slander, or the temptation to judge, what if we took a moment to pause, reflect, and choose grace? What if we resisted the urge to condemn and instead extended compassion? Gross grace begins when we refuse to pick up the stones and join the crowd of accusers.

Reflect on Your Own Sinfulness (vv. 8–9)

“And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last.”

Jesus’ simple yet powerful statement, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first,” caused the accusers to reflect on their own sinfulness. One by one, they dropped their stones and walked away.

We live in a world where it’s easy to point out the flaws in others while ignoring our own. But Jesus calls us to look inward. What is in your heart today that needs to be crucified? What sin have you grown comfortable with that you should be convicted by?

The truth is, we all have gross things in our lives that need to be dealt with. Until we understand the magnitude of our own sin, we will never fully appreciate the mercy we have received. Gross grace requires honest self-reflection. It requires us to drop the stones we’re holding and acknowledge our need for God’s grace.

Respond with Grace (vv. 10–11)

“When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’”

Jesus’ response to the woman is a perfect example of gross grace. He didn’t ignore her sin, but He didn’t condemn her either. Instead, He offered forgiveness and a call to action: “Go and sin no more.”

Grace doesn’t ignore sin; it addresses it with love and offers a path to restoration. Gross grace says, “Yes, your sin is real, but so is God’s forgiveness.”

There’s a story of a young man who had messed up his life in every way imaginable. He called me one night he was laying out under a tree at cox creek lake in Leola. He had stolen from his family, been expelled from school, and had nowhere to go. The night he called me i'm not going to lie I was hesitant, but he he was broken and hopeless. I could have left him there. But at rock bottom he needed someone to help him out of the pit he was in. He didn’t need a degrading  lecture he knew his mistakes. He didn’t need anyone to condemn him. So I jumped in the truck I drove to where the young man was, brought him home, and gave him a place to stay. Over time, that act of gross grace transformed the young man’s life. His life was nasty he stunk, he was a mess. But showing grace to him despite the mess he was in helped him experience the mercy of Jesus. 

 Grace changes people. It doesn’t excuse sin, but it offers hope and a way forward. When we respond to others with the same grace we’ve been given, we become instruments of God’s love and mercy.

Takeaway: Gross Grace Transforms Lives

Gross grace doesn’t ignore the reality of sin. It acknowledges the messiness, the brokenness, and the grossness of life. But it also declares that God’s grace is greater. On the cross, Jesus paid in full for every sin, every failure, and every shameful moment.

Resist the urge to condemn. Reflect on your own sinfulness. Respond with grace.

When God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sin; He sees us washed in the blood of Jesus. The hymn says it best:

“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

So the next time you’re tempted to pick up a stone, remember the gross grace you’ve received. And choose to be a grace giver instead of a stone thrower. Because gross grace, the kind of grace that looks past the grossness of our sin and offers love and redemption, is what changes lives. It’s what brings hope to the hopeless and light to the darkest places.

Let’s be people who reflect the heart of Jesus. Let’s be people who write in the sand, drop our stones, and offer gross grace to a world in desperate need of it.