Daily Lectionary | Genesis 16 & John 8:1-30
Genesis 16
Summary
In Genesis 2, God places Adam into a deep sleep, there’s an act of separation, and he builds Adam a bride. In Genesis 15, Abram falls into a deep sleep, there’s an act of separation in the sacrifices, and now in Genesis 16 Abram’s bride Sarai is on the scene. Sarah wants to build up her house through her servant Hagar. Like Adam, Abram listen to his wife and becomes complicit in this scheme of not trusting the Lord’s promise. Sarai blames Arbam for the contempt she feels from Hagar.
The scene shifts to Hagar, who takes the Eve role. The angel finds her and asks her a question (reminiscent of Genesis 3) and bestows on her a blessing about her son Ishmael. But Ishmael will be “a wild donkey of a man...and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” Like Abram, Hagar calls on the name of Yaweh: “’You are a God of seeing,’ for she said, ‘Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.’”
Reflection Questions
- How are the events in Genesis 16 another fall story?
- What role does “sight” (“seeing”) play in the chapter?
John 8:1-30
Summary
The story of the woman caught in adultery is not part of the earliest and best manuscripts, but it bears the marks of being authentic to Jesus even if it’s an “orphan” text. The scribes and Pharisees bring up a law that a man and a woman caught in adultery should be stoned (Lev. 2010; Deut. 22:22). Jesus doesn’t disagree with their interpretation of the law, but says, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first throw a stone at her.” Perhaps her accusers were guilty of adultery also! The woman’s sin is revealed publicly, but Jesus brings to light the hidden sins of the Pharisees.
Perhaps there’s an echo of the mysterious rite of jealousy given in Numbers 5. In that rite, when a woman is accused of adultery she goes through a test of water that either reveals her secret sin through swelling or vindicates her. Jesus has just identified himself as the one who provides water that can well up within someone (Jn. 7).. Part of that ritual was an act of writing out the curses. What is Jesus scribbling in the sand? Perhaps he was performing this rite. But the woman, though her sin is well known, Jesus does not condemn her, but sends her away to sin no more.
In verses 12-30 we’re back in the territory of John’s gospel and picking up with themes about witness and testimony to Jesus. We have the second “I AM” statement when Jsus says he’s the light of the world.
Reflection Questions
- How does Jesus show mercy both to the woman and her accusers?
- Consider how verses 12-30 might shed light on Jesus’ interaction with the woman and her accusers.