John 8:3-5 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" I can’t tell you how many times I have felt like this. Standing in front of the crowd alone and scared we have caught this woman in the very act of…. You can really fill in the blank with any number of things. There was a time in my life I was out to prove just how bad I could be. Church is really some place I never thought I would be welcomed into again. But and this is a big but there is another part to this scripture. When we read on: John 8:6-11 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." Jesus not only forgave her but he got her other accusers to lay down their stones also. This woman (me) not only got forgiveness but a second chance. I am not sure what she was feeling as the stones one by one began to hit the ground. I know what I felt when one by one, the shame, the guilt, the feelings of unworthiness all began to hit the ground. My savior not only took away those feeling but he replaced them with peace, joy, love, and acceptance. These are things I never really thought I would have. When I look back at who I was and see who I am now in Christ. I don’t recognize that person I used to be. I am so thankful that my God is a God of second, third fourth and four hundredth chances. His capacity to forgive is bigger than my capacity to sin. How amazing is that!
I also love John 8:58 that is one my favorite scriptures. 58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" I wanna shout you tell them Jesus. The little sister hiding behind her big brother who just saved her from a bully, shouting and you take that. Peace, stephanie
John 8:1-11, the woman caught in adultery. Here we see masculinity at its finest. Granted the passage isn't about what it means to be a real man- but more like what it means to be Christian. But I like to think about the message Jesus sent to men in his day. In a culture where the common prayer of the Jewish man was, "Lord I thank thee that you did not make me a woman," Jesus makes a clear statement: women are to be cherished and real men are compassionate. I wonder where the man went who was "caught in the very act" along with the woman. I think about if he used her just so they could trap Jesus. Or maybe it was just a fling that he indulged in. But where was he in the commotion? Did he get dressed and follow the crowd to Jesus only to remain silent when they wanted to stone her to death? Or maybe he just got dressed, disappeared in the city streets and went back to his own house and family. I think about who the real man was in the story. The world would celebrate the man who was "caught in the very act." The real man was Jesus- standing up for this woman, loving this woman, defending this woman, protecting this woman- being a man to this woman. The Jesus I read about is the man I want to be.
8:4 - ..."Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery...." This woman was caught in her sin. I may not be "caught" in my sin by others, but I know I get caught in my sin be the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He reveals it to me. I am like this woman, my ONLY hope is Jesus!
8:26 "....But he who sent me is reliable....." When you think of God there are so many things we say about him. Isn't it awesome that he is reliable? The world will turn their back, but my God is reliable.
God - Thank you for hope. Thank you that wen I am judged by human standards, I can turn to you and ask forgiveness and it is there. Thank you that I only have to live to please and glorify you!
Help me to remember that you are reliable. Seems like such a simple word to describe and awesome God.
4 comments:
John 8:24 "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."
Jesus brings it! Plain and simple he gives the Gospel message!
If you don't believe in me, you will die and spend eternity in hell. - Jesus
John 8:3-5
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
I can’t tell you how many times I have felt like this. Standing in front of the crowd alone and scared we have caught this woman in the very act of…. You can really fill in the blank with any number of things. There was a time in my life I was out to prove just how bad I could be. Church is really some place I never thought I would be welcomed into again. But and this is a big but there is another part to this scripture. When we read on:
John 8:6-11
6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Jesus not only forgave her but he got her other accusers to lay down their stones also. This woman (me) not only got forgiveness but a second chance. I am not sure what she was feeling as the stones one by one began to hit the ground. I know what I felt when one by one, the shame, the guilt, the feelings of unworthiness all began to hit the ground. My savior not only took away those feeling but he replaced them with peace, joy, love, and acceptance. These are things I never really thought I would have. When I look back at who I was and see who I am now in Christ. I don’t recognize that person I used to be. I am so thankful that my God is a God of second, third fourth and four hundredth chances. His capacity to forgive is bigger than my capacity to sin. How amazing is that!
I also love John 8:58 that is one my favorite scriptures.
58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
I wanna shout you tell them Jesus. The little sister hiding behind her big brother who just saved her from a bully, shouting and you take that.
Peace,
stephanie
John 8:1-11, the woman caught in adultery. Here we see masculinity at its finest. Granted the passage isn't about what it means to be a real man- but more like what it means to be Christian. But I like to think about the message Jesus sent to men in his day. In a culture where the common prayer of the Jewish man was, "Lord I thank thee that you did not make me a woman," Jesus makes a clear statement: women are to be cherished and real men are compassionate.
I wonder where the man went who was "caught in the very act" along with the woman. I think about if he used her just so they could trap Jesus. Or maybe it was just a fling that he indulged in. But where was he in the commotion? Did he get dressed and follow the crowd to Jesus only to remain silent when they wanted to stone her to death?
Or maybe he just got dressed, disappeared in the city streets and went back to his own house and family.
I think about who the real man was in the story. The world would celebrate the man who was "caught in the very act." The real man was Jesus- standing up for this woman, loving this woman, defending this woman, protecting this woman- being a man to this woman.
The Jesus I read about is the man I want to be.
8:4 - ..."Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery...." This woman was caught in her sin. I may not be "caught" in my sin by others, but I know I get caught in my sin be the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He reveals it to me. I am like this woman, my ONLY hope is Jesus!
8:26 "....But he who sent me is reliable....." When you think of God there are so many things we say about him. Isn't it awesome that he is reliable? The world will turn their back, but my God is reliable.
God - Thank you for hope. Thank you that wen I am judged by human standards, I can turn to you and ask forgiveness and it is there. Thank you that I only have to live to please and glorify you!
Help me to remember that you are reliable. Seems like such a simple word to describe and awesome God.
Blessings!!
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