July 13: Affirming His Grace.
HIS VERDICT.
"He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."--John 8:7
Unexpectedly, I found myself in the very place where my mother had told me not to go. My father, then a pastor, was attending workers' meetings in a hotel, and my mom and I had come along. I was a little girl, excitedly playing in the hotel's swimming pool, having been given instructions to stay in the shallow end. But the bottom of the pool was slippery, and I gradually started sliding toward the deep end. I panicked and tried to jump up, but I was drowning and could not reach the surface. In desperation, I made one final attempt, and my mother saw me and rescued me, in spite of the fact that I had ended up on the wrong side.
The adulterous woman ended up exactly where she was told not to go--the deep end. The charge against her is clear: adultery, caught "in the very act" (John 8:4). Adultery was one of the three gravest sins for Jews; they would rather die than find themselves caught in idolatry, murder, or adultery. The scribes and the Pharisees came to the temple that day with the Scriptures in one hand and stones in the other and dragged her into the center of the court (verse 3). They wanted to make an example of her, humiliating her in front of everyone. "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do you say?" (verse 5; see Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22-24). There is no doubt that the scribes and the Pharisees are shaping the law to fit their intentions, but the truth is that the woman is guilty! Have you ever been guilty and felt condemned by the law? Adultery, lust, pride, gossip, stealing, bad parenting, lying, self-righteousness, et cetera? Yes, you and I are sitting with her in the middle of the court. Only we who have understood the bad news can rejoice with the good news! The verdict Jesus gave is clear: guilty! "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7). Conscience-stricken, they all departed, and Jesus was left alone with her. By His own definition, Jesus was the only One (without sin) who could throw the stones! But He didn't, because He chose to die in her place and in ours. Hallelujah!
My Response:_________________________________________________________
HIS VERDICT.
"He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."--John 8:7
Unexpectedly, I found myself in the very place where my mother had told me not to go. My father, then a pastor, was attending workers' meetings in a hotel, and my mom and I had come along. I was a little girl, excitedly playing in the hotel's swimming pool, having been given instructions to stay in the shallow end. But the bottom of the pool was slippery, and I gradually started sliding toward the deep end. I panicked and tried to jump up, but I was drowning and could not reach the surface. In desperation, I made one final attempt, and my mother saw me and rescued me, in spite of the fact that I had ended up on the wrong side.
The adulterous woman ended up exactly where she was told not to go--the deep end. The charge against her is clear: adultery, caught "in the very act" (John 8:4). Adultery was one of the three gravest sins for Jews; they would rather die than find themselves caught in idolatry, murder, or adultery. The scribes and the Pharisees came to the temple that day with the Scriptures in one hand and stones in the other and dragged her into the center of the court (verse 3). They wanted to make an example of her, humiliating her in front of everyone. "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do you say?" (verse 5; see Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22-24). There is no doubt that the scribes and the Pharisees are shaping the law to fit their intentions, but the truth is that the woman is guilty! Have you ever been guilty and felt condemned by the law? Adultery, lust, pride, gossip, stealing, bad parenting, lying, self-righteousness, et cetera? Yes, you and I are sitting with her in the middle of the court. Only we who have understood the bad news can rejoice with the good news! The verdict Jesus gave is clear: guilty! "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7). Conscience-stricken, they all departed, and Jesus was left alone with her. By His own definition, Jesus was the only One (without sin) who could throw the stones! But He didn't, because He chose to die in her place and in ours. Hallelujah!
My Response:_________________________________________________________
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