And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she had been, in the midst. John 8:9 (New American Standard Bible)
Most of us are familiar with the story of the woman taken in adultery who was brought before Jesus. The grace Christ offered to this woman is a model of understanding and compassion that is so lacking in the average human including the majority of Christians. Jesus, as the Ultimate Man of Wisdom, knew exactly what to say and do in this situation.
In reading this account again I was taken with the grace Christ showed to the woman’s accusers as well. As God Incarnate consider what the Lord could have said to these men and He would have been totally justified. But Jesus in His grace and mercy simply wrote on the ground and then stood and shined the light of His righteousness on their hearts. Nothing else was said and these men were allowed to depart as they considered their deeds and the motives of their hearts. No lightning bolts or fire from heaven but on that day only the still small voice of God was heard. He surely is a just God but He’s also the God of second chances.
I believe that as those men walked away from their attempt to entrap Jesus and destroy this woman that Jesus was very grieved because of their spiritual blindness and judgmental attitudes. Jesus did not die just for ‘nice’ sinners. His example in this situation is a great model for me. When I see the uglier side of people often my first thought is to despise them the grace that the Great God of Eternity offers. When we say Jesus Christ died for the entire human race it doesn’t mean just for unbelievers with a good moral attitude but also for the scarred, the angry, the bitter and the vicious. At times like this God wants me to drop the stone which I ought not to have picked up in the first place and extend my hands and my heart in the beauty of true grace. When it comes to other people and who they are God doesn’t want me to rock anyone’s world.
Ken
www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com
