Lent Day 21: Fully known; fully transformed
Ever been condemned by "good people" or caught in a sin by self-righteous passersby?
John records a fascinating encounter between the scribes (lawyers), Pharisees (religious leaders), and Jesus. Trying to trap Jesus into breaking the law - or not taking it seriously enough - they bring a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. Where's the adulterer? Nowhere in sight. John 8 says:
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered round him, and he sat down to teach them.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’
They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
> The accusers care nothing for the woman. But how do you react when someone shoves a juicy bit of gossip you way? How do you respond then you're asked what you think about "so-and-so who is a bad person?" Do you agree, add fuel to the fire with what you know, or pass on a rumor?
> Jesus, the perfect human with the right to judge sin and enforce righteousness, has a surprising reaction:
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At 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.
> It's ironic that her accusers slink away. Notice that the older and wiser ones leave first. Eventually, it's just Jesus and her.
Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’
‘No one, sir,’ she said.
‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’
> Earlier, John writes that Jesus has come to save, not to condemn. Jesus explains his mission to Nicodemus the Pharisee this way: he was not sent "into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:17)
> The woman offers no defense. She's been caught in the act. She's guilty of what everyone says about her.
> Jesus doesn't overlook her sin. He doesn't tell the woman, "Hey you're ok. Go ahead and do whatever you like."
> God hates sin because it hurts his creation. It destroys the sinner he loves. Jesus knows how damaging sin is. He sees how the woman has become ostracized and trapped because of her actions.
> Yet instead of grinding her into the ground, Jesus accepts where she is and offers her a new future: "Go and sin no more."
> In what area of your life do you need that second chance from Jesus? What sins, bad habits, and destructive lifestyle do you need to expose to him = so that he can forgive you, cleanse you, and give you a new life?
> His offer is on the table ... for you. "The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. (John 3:35-36)
> Like that woman, who was guilty before those condemning her, it's up to you to accept or reject Jesus' free gift a new future.
