Jesus Never Caught AnxietySample

Jesus’ Differentiation in Action

In John 8, we have a front-row seat to an incredibly tense situation. A huge crowd has gathered to hear Jesus speak in the temple when the ‘teachers of the law’ aggressively disrupt the moment with a woman caught in adultery. Armed with stones and the words of the Levitical law alongside the knowledge that Rome forbids the Jews to inflict capital punishment, the religious leaders thrust the woman in front of Jesus, reducing her to nothing more than a prop—a means to an end.

Can you imagine the anxiety that filled this space? The people, gathered to hear Jesus speak, sit in stunned silence. The Pharisees, filled with hot indignation, stand satisfied with their own cleverness. The woman—vulnerable, ashamed, and terrified—stands exposed. And Jesus—in the center of it all.

This is an incredible moment requiring strong differentiation of self, and Jesus modeled it perfectly. First, he did not allow the anxiety of others to infect himself. He did not match the Pharisees' anger; He did not heap accusations upon the woman, nor did he excuse her behavior. Instead, He stayed connected.

Jesus stayed connected to the angry crowd. He did not cut them off but actually moved toward them by simply saying, “Whoever is without sin, you throw the first stone.” He stayed connected to the woman. After the men put down their stones and walked away, Jesus did not abandon her. With compassion, the only one who was without sin remained by her side and said, “Neither do I condemn you.”

The next thing we see is Jesus’ ability to clarify his values. Jesus saw what was really going on—he knew this was a trap. I know that Jesus is God and is perfect in His knowledge and ways, but there is something in Jesus’ response that we can practice. He paused. He did not immediately engage with anyone but bent down and began writing on the ground. Taking a moment to calm ourselves in highly anxious situations increases our chances of seeing what is really going on rather than being infected by our own reactivity. Jesus saw what was going on, and he found a way through. He engaged each group with love, but He did it while remaining true to His convictions.

What distinguished Jesus in differentiation was his ability to be a connected presence in a very hostile situation.

How can you respond with both truth and grace in difficult situations?

How did Jesus’ ability to differentiate affect the angry mob? How did it affect the woman?