One Look At Jesus
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The name placed upon this nameless woman in Scripture is Shame. I’ve given her that name based on her “condition” when she met Jesus.
Jesus went across to Mount of Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?”
“No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.” (John 8:1-8 The Message)
Was this a set-up? Quite possibly, yes!
The religious scholars were trying to trap Jesus.
But God . . .
If He answered STONE HER to their question about the Law, then He would discredit Himself, for He was known to be a friend of sinners.
If He replied, LET HER GO, then it would appear that He was a condoner of sin and against the Law of Moses.
Certainly an air-tight case of bringing judgment to Jesus – they triumphed in their reasoning.
And then – the verbal bombshell . . .
“The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.”
Such great truth and teaching in this scripture passage, but I am going to zero in on one insight that has brought comfort and resolution to various scenarios during my walk with The Lord.
Jesus in my Defender!
Do I deserve the holy wrath of God to strike me down and take me out?
YES I do, and so do you!
But you notice here, through the eyes of Jesus, the issue is not the particular sin of this woman, but the loving compassion of our Lord. As Jesus looks at her perhaps He is reminded of the fallen state of human-kind. Perhaps He is reminded of His reason for coming to earth . . .to be the pure holy sacrifice on our behalf to appease the wrath of God so that He wouldn’t take us out for our sin.
God wants us to live with Him forever – and Jesus with His Sacrifice of Blood is the only way that can be possible, for God is holy and cannot look upon sin.
I see something else here. SHAME, standing before Jesus, was a woman who had trashed the Law of Moses. I’m pretty sure she knew her sin before her.
But what about the religious scholars – who knew and taught the Law? Did THEY see their sin? If they’d revisited the prophet Isaiah’s declaration, they did not show it.
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6 NIV)
Friend, “big sins and little sins” are ALL abominable to God!
It is Jesus your Defender who speaks to you saying . . . Where are your accusers? "Has no one condemned you?"
It is Jesus your Defender Who cleanses you from every sin you've ever committed. And His Blood covers your sinful nature all the days of your life on earth yet to be lived.
I’m so thankful for the Blood of Jesus washing away ALL my sins – and so thankful that when God looks at me He sees the righteousness of God!
This woman steps out of scripture after her encounter with Jesus. I'd like to think she moved forward honoring her Lord and living a life of fresh insight and thankfulness.
Although I don't know how her life played out, I do know how I want to live the rest of mine.
Lord Jesus, give me fresh insight into Your great Love and what it cost YOU to pour Your righteousness into my being. May I honor You by not judging another, and by walking in the reality that it is Your Love that defends me.
