Jesus Forgives

The crime: adultery
The punishment: stoning to death
The savior: Jesus.

The undeserved, inexplicable, miraculous work of Jesus is found in his total deliverance and forgiveness of the woman caught in adultery in John 8.

In one statement, Jesus offers grace and truth to a woman whose life was literally laid at his feet. The trap was set for Jesus. What would he do with this woman caught in adultery? If he agreed to Moses’ punishment for her, he would be condemning her to death, an act forbidden by the Roman authorities. If he said let her go, he would be in defiance of the Jewish law and subject to punishment himself. So he stooped to the ground and began to write…and the trap so cunningly laid was sprung upon the accusers.
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

They slowly went away, one by one. Perhaps the searing conviction of their own discretions, their own “spiritual adultery” that Marji taught about at Thrive, made them drop the stones they had so willingly taken up.

As we left Thrive this Thursday, we were handed one shiny black stone as a reminder of Jesus’ words:
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

My stone lies on my kitchen counter, directly in front of my sink. As I stand at the sink, interacting with my children, husband, and those in my home, I glance upon the stone and hear Jesus’ words ringing in my soul
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Every thought, every action, every inclination toward judgment is an opportunity to throw my own stone. As I look at the stone on my counter, I imagine these words and thoughts as stones themselves, thrown in the direction of my accused, stinging them, flung with accuracy and force. I cringe myself as I picture how many stones I throw. And then I am reminded once again:
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

I look upon my black stone and I lay my judgments down with it, with a heart that prays,

Thank you Jesus! For the amazing grace you have offered me for my own abundant sins, and the undeserved work you do in my heart. May my judgments be replaced with compassion and my accusations with mercy.

Next week, we will be interacting with Jesus in John 6, learning how the bread he offers complete satisfies our deepest needs. See you then!