When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
– John 8:10-11
The uniqueness of Jesus’ response here cannot be overstated. It was something that no one would have expected. It is a response full of both grace and truth.
Moments before this, a group of religious leaders drug a woman caught in the act of adultery before Jesus. Having no concern for her and the incredible humiliation and shame she must have felt, the text tells us that they ask Jesus what they should do with her, referencing how the law instructs them to stone such a woman.
It says that they are doing this to trap Jesus. At this moment, the woman is nothing more than an object to these men. The religious leaders do not care about justice and know nothing of mercy. All they know is that in order to keep their power and status, they must stop Jesus, and this woman is just another attempt to discredit Him.
Not only does Jesus dismantle their trap, but He also sees and treats the woman not as an object but as an image bearer of God. He draws all eyes to Him and allows the accusers to throw the first stone with one major caveat: as long as they are without sin. One by one, the accusers let their stones fall to the ground and head back home, leaving only Jesus and the woman alone.
Jesus, the only one who was without sin and the one who could have justly thrown the first stone, sees the woman and offers her mercy. He does not condemn her. What incredible grace! However, He loves her enough to share the truth with her—“Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
Moments before this, a group of religious leaders drug a woman caught in the act of adultery before Jesus. Having no concern for her and the incredible humiliation and shame she must have felt, the text tells us that they ask Jesus what they should do with her, referencing how the law instructs them to stone such a woman.
It says that they are doing this to trap Jesus. At this moment, the woman is nothing more than an object to these men. The religious leaders do not care about justice and know nothing of mercy. All they know is that in order to keep their power and status, they must stop Jesus, and this woman is just another attempt to discredit Him.
Not only does Jesus dismantle their trap, but He also sees and treats the woman not as an object but as an image bearer of God. He draws all eyes to Him and allows the accusers to throw the first stone with one major caveat: as long as they are without sin. One by one, the accusers let their stones fall to the ground and head back home, leaving only Jesus and the woman alone.
Jesus, the only one who was without sin and the one who could have justly thrown the first stone, sees the woman and offers her mercy. He does not condemn her. What incredible grace! However, He loves her enough to share the truth with her—“Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
How can you be like Jesus and walk in grace and truth? It starts by seeing people for who they are, image bearers of God, and treating them as such.
Jesus knows this woman needs grace and mercy, and He is a God of grace, so that’s what He gives her. However, He also knows that the only thing that will truly set her free is the truth. She will never experience a full and abundant life unless she leaves her life of sin.
For some of us, it is much easier to be full of grace, but we are scared to ever share the hard truth with someone. That’s typically where I fall short. Still, others of us are great at sharing the truth, but we do it with pride and without love. The person we are sharing with is just an object for us to get our point across.
How can you be like Jesus and walk in grace and truth? It starts by seeing people for who they are, image bearers of God, and treating them as such.
I want to encourage you to pray for boldness to share the truth with everyone God gives you the opportunity to and also pray for the compassion to do it gracefully while considering the potential impact on the person you're sharing with.
For some of us, it is much easier to be full of grace, but we are scared to ever share the hard truth with someone. That’s typically where I fall short. Still, others of us are great at sharing the truth, but we do it with pride and without love. The person we are sharing with is just an object for us to get our point across.
How can you be like Jesus and walk in grace and truth? It starts by seeing people for who they are, image bearers of God, and treating them as such.
I want to encourage you to pray for boldness to share the truth with everyone God gives you the opportunity to and also pray for the compassion to do it gracefully while considering the potential impact on the person you're sharing with.
Posted in Devotional
Tagged with grace and truth, whats the point, john 8:10-11, josh rhodes, tim haring, compassion, share the truth
Tagged with grace and truth, whats the point, john 8:10-11, josh rhodes, tim haring, compassion, share the truth
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