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20 August 2007
John 8:1-6
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he went back to the Temple, and all the people came to him, and he sat and taught them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery.
They forced her to stand before the people. They said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught having sexual relations with a man who is not her husband. The law of Moses commands that we stone to death every woman who does this. What do you say we should do?" They were asking this to trick Jesus so that they could have some charge against him.
But Jesus bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger.
What has more influence on us? Wanting to do the 'things of God' or are we more concerned about how others see us, what they think of us, and proving that we are right?
In John chapter 8 we see Jesus 'only doing what he sees the father doing', and in contrast the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees parading an 'I'm right, I'm ok' attitude. Jesus is teaching the crowd, when a women who has been caught in the act of adultery is brought to him, with the 'hope' that he will condemn her, and in so doing reinforce the religious leaders self righteous attitudes. Jesus, operating from a heart of grace and mercy offers forgiveness and a new start to the women. The woman (who some believe to be the Mary in Luke 7) becomes a worshipper and follower of Jesus, despite the attempts of the 'we're right, we're ok crew' to kill her off and in the process discredit Jesus.
Think about motivates you in the things you do - how it will look to others, or how it is to God.
Lord Jesus, thank you that my security is in you, help me to be like you in how I respond to other people, and I ask that today I will do 'the things of God'. Amen.
Written by Stephen Plumb
John 8:1-6
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he went back to the Temple, and all the people came to him, and he sat and taught them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery.
They forced her to stand before the people. They said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught having sexual relations with a man who is not her husband. The law of Moses commands that we stone to death every woman who does this. What do you say we should do?" They were asking this to trick Jesus so that they could have some charge against him.
But Jesus bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger.
What has more influence on us? Wanting to do the 'things of God' or are we more concerned about how others see us, what they think of us, and proving that we are right?
In John chapter 8 we see Jesus 'only doing what he sees the father doing', and in contrast the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees parading an 'I'm right, I'm ok' attitude. Jesus is teaching the crowd, when a women who has been caught in the act of adultery is brought to him, with the 'hope' that he will condemn her, and in so doing reinforce the religious leaders self righteous attitudes. Jesus, operating from a heart of grace and mercy offers forgiveness and a new start to the women. The woman (who some believe to be the Mary in Luke 7) becomes a worshipper and follower of Jesus, despite the attempts of the 'we're right, we're ok crew' to kill her off and in the process discredit Jesus.
Think about motivates you in the things you do - how it will look to others, or how it is to God.
Lord Jesus, thank you that my security is in you, help me to be like you in how I respond to other people, and I ask that today I will do 'the things of God'. Amen.
Written by Stephen Plumb
