Becoming Love: If We Start at Finish, Where Do We End? (Part 1)Намуна

Day Three: The Woman caught in adultery

Have you ever felt judged to the point of condemnation?

In John 8, Jesus is teaching at the temple courts when the Pharisees bring a woman caught in the act of adultery. The Pharisees, looking for a reason to trap Jesus, demand that the woman be stoned. . .

Two amazing things stand out:

Firstly, Jesus addresses the hypocritical nature of judging others and meets it with grace and truth.

He doesn’t directly address the Pharisees - He addresses the hypocritical nature behind their behaviour. He extends grace not only to the woman but also to her accusers! He does so by saying, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (verse 7). This statement - which wasn’t an act of war, but words of truth - immediately humbled everyone surrounding the woman.

Secondly, Jesus uses this moment to display the restorative power of love.

This woman was in desperate need of an advocate, someone to plead her case. She needed her sin and guilt to be forgiven and taken away. She needed her shame to be covered. She needed hope for the future. Jesus became love for her by being the fulfilment of all of these needs.

Lastly, Jesus says,” Go now and leave your life of sin” (verse 11). This wasn’t only a command. It is also a statement of what the power of God’s love can do to empower you to live a life free from sin.

Where have you been casting stones instead of speaking love and restoration?