Page 55 - Livin Light Issue 81

Friday August 4 - All accusers leave!
Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no- one condemned you?” “No-one, sir,” she said. John 8:10-11
Can you imagine, for a moment, waiting to be stoned to death for a sin that you know plenty of others have committed? It seems so unfair. After a while feeling completely overloaded with thoughts of entrapment, injustice, sorrow, terror and fear, you quietly look up, and amazingly all those who were going to stone you have gone! This wasn’t what you had anticipated: you were surely about to experience a horrendously painful death! You peer out of the corner of your eye and see that the only person left is unlike anyone else. He conveys a quietness, kindness and gentleness, with no judgement or malice; an expression of unconditional love. What an incredible privilege to have encountered that personal interaction with the Son of God, Messiah!
Returning to the woman caught in adultery, she would have felt similarly to how you just imagined. Jesus then asked if anyone had condemned her. She looked around and replied (much to her surprise), “No-one, sir.” At this stage she didn’t know what action Jesus would take. However, she knew that he wasn’t part of the group who had exposed her sin and said she must die for such behaviour. This highlights how important it is to love the person despite their sin – which doesn’t come naturally to us. Tomorrow we will look at Jesus’ response and how this speaks into our own lives.
Jesus, I praise you for your awesome kindness and unconditional love, which challenges us to love others differently. Amen.
Saturday August 5 - Not condemned, but free!
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:11
Putting yourself in the place of the adulterous woman, your heart beating faster with anticipation of ‘what next?’, how would you expect Jesus to respond? With some form of punishment? Despite the adulterous woman being able to see a difference in this man who spoke with authority and love, her mind still took her to a place of anticipating the worst. She had been cruelly exposed, so surely this man Jesus, who some claimed to be the Son of God, couldn’t just let her go! Would you feel similarly? It must have been a complete shock when she heard his words, “Then neither do I condemn you.”
Jesus opened her eyes to her sinfulness; effectively he gave her a practical lesson in truth and purity and in leaving her sinful past. His words and actions were a complete miracle for her. She had the opportunity to turn her life around, honour God, keep his commands, follow the Torah, and one day to witness to others. No doubt her testimony would give them the chance of freedom and salvation. WOW!
Jesus’ response speaks powerfully into our own lives. He gives us the opportunity to see the incredible love of God: his mercy and compassion, encouraging new life rather than bringing condemnation. Of course, we continually sin and go our own way at times, but let’s confess our wrongdoing and walk with our Creator.
Lord, I ask you to show me all that I need to apply to myself through this week’s reflections. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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