July 14: Affirming His Grace.
HIS ACQUITTAL.
"I do not condemn you....Go. From now on sin no more."--John 8:11
I was acquitted, not because I was innocent, but because the police officer didn't show up. I had been coming down the mountain into a construction zone. There were many trucks coming and going on the road, and I planned to follow the orange cones that were placed on the road to create a temporary lane. A highway patrol officer thought I was not doing it right, so he pulled me over and gave me a ticket. I decided to challenge this violation in court. But when my name was called, the officer wasn't there, and I was acquitted by default, due to his absence.
When an adulterous woman was brought to Jesus, her accusers came with their Bibles in hand. She had been clearly caught in adultery (John 8:4), and this was their opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: to condemn her and to test Jesus, in order to accuse Him (verse 6). "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" (John 8:5). The trap was cleverly set. Their dilemma was that under the Roman law, the Jews had no power to carry out a death sentence (see John 18:31). So, if Jesus had said, "Go ahead! Stone her!" they could go to the Roman authorities and make a charge against Him. If He had said, "Leave her alone!" they could charge Him with breaking the Law of Moses and discredit Him as a rabbi. It was a clever trap. "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her," He said (John 8:7). She was guilty, and Jesus was the only One qualified to throw the stone. But He aborted the stoning because a few days later He Himself would take the punishment that she deserved. When He was left alone with her, He said: " 'Woman....Did no one condemn you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more' " (verses 10, 11). Jesus always speaks in the same order. First, "I do not condemn you," then, "Go...sin no more." God desires for us to live healthier, more abundant lives, for His glory and for our happiness, yet He never reverses the order. His bidding is always preceded by the good news of acquittal (see Romans 8:1), because He paid the price! Thank You, Jesus!
My Response:_________________________________________________________
HIS ACQUITTAL.
"I do not condemn you....Go. From now on sin no more."--John 8:11
I was acquitted, not because I was innocent, but because the police officer didn't show up. I had been coming down the mountain into a construction zone. There were many trucks coming and going on the road, and I planned to follow the orange cones that were placed on the road to create a temporary lane. A highway patrol officer thought I was not doing it right, so he pulled me over and gave me a ticket. I decided to challenge this violation in court. But when my name was called, the officer wasn't there, and I was acquitted by default, due to his absence.
When an adulterous woman was brought to Jesus, her accusers came with their Bibles in hand. She had been clearly caught in adultery (John 8:4), and this was their opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: to condemn her and to test Jesus, in order to accuse Him (verse 6). "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" (John 8:5). The trap was cleverly set. Their dilemma was that under the Roman law, the Jews had no power to carry out a death sentence (see John 18:31). So, if Jesus had said, "Go ahead! Stone her!" they could go to the Roman authorities and make a charge against Him. If He had said, "Leave her alone!" they could charge Him with breaking the Law of Moses and discredit Him as a rabbi. It was a clever trap. "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her," He said (John 8:7). She was guilty, and Jesus was the only One qualified to throw the stone. But He aborted the stoning because a few days later He Himself would take the punishment that she deserved. When He was left alone with her, He said: " 'Woman....Did no one condemn you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more' " (verses 10, 11). Jesus always speaks in the same order. First, "I do not condemn you," then, "Go...sin no more." God desires for us to live healthier, more abundant lives, for His glory and for our happiness, yet He never reverses the order. His bidding is always preceded by the good news of acquittal (see Romans 8:1), because He paid the price! Thank You, Jesus!
My Response:_________________________________________________________
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