"Teacher, this woman was caught
in the act of adultery."
John 8:4
The unfortunate woman didn't think she had any hope…
in the act of adultery."
John 8:4
The unfortunate woman didn't think she had any hope…
She was unceremoniously tossed at Jesus' feet by an angry bunch of self-righteous men. Allegedly caught in the act of adultery, she was marched before the Messiah while He was sitting in the Temple at Jerusalem, teaching those who gathered there.
"Jesus!" shouted the religious rulers, "Should we stone her for violating the Law of Moses?" I sensed they were hoping for a “Yes,” so they could take her outside and bash her brains in. But refusing to be moved by their demands for swift justice, the Lord casually bent over from His seat and began writing with His finger on the ground.
Then pausing, Jesus raised his head, looked at them and said, "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone." Riddled with guilt, these religious zealots quietly dropped their rocks, and one by one they all walked away ashamed.
"Woman, where are your accusers?" asked the wise and shrewd Teacher. And Jesus, extending kindness to her rather than heaping more condemnation upon her, said, "Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more."
The mercy of God! That was what she got a taste of. God's divine mercy had triumphed over the cold-blooded cries of vengeance from the lips and hearts of the cruel and calloused religious crowd.
Jesus saved her life. He looked upon her with soft eyes of compassion as opposed to the fiery eyes of
judgement. Understanding the circumstances, Jesus chose to display grace instead of wrath. He knew that the wrathful fury of the Pharisees was a sham, and He proved it. "If any of you are without sin" Jesus declared. But they were filled with sin, and they knew it.
Fortunately for the woman, she fell into the hands of the One who was and is Israel's merciful and faithful High Priest, Jesus the Son of God. He is the One who, as a Scripture yet to be written at the time, would later describe as being without sin, yet able to be "touched” by our weaknesses and failings.
This dear soul, thinking that a painful and shameful death awaited her, instead found herself in the hands of her Savior. Little did she know at the time that she was going to meet face to face with the God of compassion and grace.
D.B.
Scriptures referred to:
John 8:1-11
Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews 5:1-2
"Jesus!" shouted the religious rulers, "Should we stone her for violating the Law of Moses?" I sensed they were hoping for a “Yes,” so they could take her outside and bash her brains in. But refusing to be moved by their demands for swift justice, the Lord casually bent over from His seat and began writing with His finger on the ground.
Then pausing, Jesus raised his head, looked at them and said, "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone." Riddled with guilt, these religious zealots quietly dropped their rocks, and one by one they all walked away ashamed.
"Woman, where are your accusers?" asked the wise and shrewd Teacher. And Jesus, extending kindness to her rather than heaping more condemnation upon her, said, "Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more."
The mercy of God! That was what she got a taste of. God's divine mercy had triumphed over the cold-blooded cries of vengeance from the lips and hearts of the cruel and calloused religious crowd.
Jesus saved her life. He looked upon her with soft eyes of compassion as opposed to the fiery eyes of
judgement. Understanding the circumstances, Jesus chose to display grace instead of wrath. He knew that the wrathful fury of the Pharisees was a sham, and He proved it. "If any of you are without sin" Jesus declared. But they were filled with sin, and they knew it.
Fortunately for the woman, she fell into the hands of the One who was and is Israel's merciful and faithful High Priest, Jesus the Son of God. He is the One who, as a Scripture yet to be written at the time, would later describe as being without sin, yet able to be "touched” by our weaknesses and failings.
This dear soul, thinking that a painful and shameful death awaited her, instead found herself in the hands of her Savior. Little did she know at the time that she was going to meet face to face with the God of compassion and grace.
D.B.
Scriptures referred to:
John 8:1-11
Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews 5:1-2
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