the good news is… rooted in justice, mercy, & faithfulness
READ
Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and, making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
REFLECTION
Probably the best known verse in the Bible is John 3:16. You know it: “For God so loved the world….”
But I think we stop too soon. Read on to John 3:17: “For God did not send his son to condemn the world, but to be its savior.”
In today’s scripture you see this verse in action. It takes place in a room full of judgment: a woman caught in the act of adultery is brought before Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees are overflowing with judgment: judgment of the woman; judgment of Jesus. The Old Testament law says that such a woman was to be stoned to death, and these judges had their hands full, ready to start throwing.
That’s when Jesus says, “Let the one without sin throw the first stone.” The room went silent. One by one the people drop the stones and walk away. Jesus turns to the woman, “Is there no one left to condemn you?” “No one, sir,” she says. “Then neither do I condemn you.”
“Neither do I condemn you.” What a beautiful word of grace and mercy. God did not send the son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
Thanks be to God.
Written by Rev. Chuck Williamson
REFLECT
The next time you are in a “room full of judgment,” how might you practice forgiveness instead of being among those who are casting stones?