We are going to look at two R-rated stories from the life of Christ this morning. I use the term "R-rated" in the sense that when some people observed the behavior of Jesus in these events, they were so morally incensed that in each case they felt he should be censured.

The opening scene of the first story begins with a woman who had been dragged out of her house by a couple of her pastors; they had not even given her time to comb her hair or properly dress. She had been caught red-handed, found committing adultery by her husband. He had immediately notified the church in order that justice might be served, because according to Jewish law any woman who committed adultery was to be stoned to death.

You can imagine the crowd that gathered around as this pious parade of pharisees ushered th…