- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 17,518
21 August 2007
John 8:7-11
When they continued to ask Jesus their question, he raised up and said, "Anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her." Then Jesus bent over again and wrote on the ground.
Those who heard Jesus began to leave one by one, first the older men and then the others. Jesus was left there alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus raised up again and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one judged you guilty?"
She answered, "No one, sir."
Then Jesus said, "I also don't judge you guilty. You may go now, but don't sin anymore."
We can find ourselves judging other people, putting them down, assassinating their character, to make us feel better about ourselves (we're ok!). On the MSN chat room recently, you could have your say about punishment and rehabilitation of sex offenders. Some of the attitudes expressed were not only very judgemental but also quite frightening (you can probably guess the gist of the remarks). The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees had brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery.
The Law of Moses did require the death of the offender by stoning, and so from a stance of law, the accusers were justified in their request. However Jesus was to show a new way, not condoning the offence but offering grace. With great wisdom, he said "Anyone here who has not sinned can throw the first stone at her". To the credit of the crowd they realised they also weren't as ok as they first believed, and one by one began to move away. Jesus told Mary that he didn't judge her and that she was to go and sin no more. She became a disciple.
Today, look at how you judge others, and consider how Jesus would respond.
Jesus, may I see people as you see them, help me not to judge others. May I speak words of life to them that brings healing and freedom. Amen.
Written by Stephen Plumb
John 8:7-11
When they continued to ask Jesus their question, he raised up and said, "Anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her." Then Jesus bent over again and wrote on the ground.
Those who heard Jesus began to leave one by one, first the older men and then the others. Jesus was left there alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus raised up again and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one judged you guilty?"
She answered, "No one, sir."
Then Jesus said, "I also don't judge you guilty. You may go now, but don't sin anymore."
We can find ourselves judging other people, putting them down, assassinating their character, to make us feel better about ourselves (we're ok!). On the MSN chat room recently, you could have your say about punishment and rehabilitation of sex offenders. Some of the attitudes expressed were not only very judgemental but also quite frightening (you can probably guess the gist of the remarks). The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees had brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery.
The Law of Moses did require the death of the offender by stoning, and so from a stance of law, the accusers were justified in their request. However Jesus was to show a new way, not condoning the offence but offering grace. With great wisdom, he said "Anyone here who has not sinned can throw the first stone at her". To the credit of the crowd they realised they also weren't as ok as they first believed, and one by one began to move away. Jesus told Mary that he didn't judge her and that she was to go and sin no more. She became a disciple.
Today, look at how you judge others, and consider how Jesus would respond.
Jesus, may I see people as you see them, help me not to judge others. May I speak words of life to them that brings healing and freedom. Amen.
Written by Stephen Plumb
