5-23-2017

Good Morning All,

               John 8:11; “And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

    This will probably make more sense for the adults than the kids.  This verse is from one of the more powerful stories in the Bible.  This is the ending of the woman caught in adultery.  It is powerful because of the raw and personal emotions that this story elicits from us.  Most of us can relate in one way or another to the characters in this story.  The woman was caught in adultery; so as the Pharisees and scribes drug her through the streets she was either naked or else clinging to some sheet or something for cover.  Imagine the fear, the embarrassment, the humiliation that she felt.  The Pharisees and the scribes smelled blood.  They had this woman, caught, as it were, red handed.  They had the Law of Moses clearly on their side.  They had righteous indignation on their side and they were hoping to stick it to Jesus.  He would either contradict the Law of Moses or lose face and popularity with the people.  They were almost giddy with the thought of what was about to happen.  Then they were almost literally shot down.

    We see a unique part of the story.  Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground (John 8:8).  Nothing more is written than that yet it is filled with a message.  Some commentators believe that Jesus looked into the heart of each man and then proceeded to write down that sin in the dirt.  Some say he wrote the word “mercy” in old Hebrew.  Whatever he wrote, it had an incredible effect.  All those men, who were ready to stone this woman; they had the rocks in their hand.  Yet they dropped the stones, turned, and walked away.  Jesus looked up at the woman and then spoke our verse.

    There are two powerful messages here.  First, Jesus did not come to the world to condemn it but to save it.  He came with God’s love and delivered redemption.  He didn’t condemn her but he did warn her.  Go and sin no more; where’s the love in that?  We hear that a lot.  Many people claim that if you are a Christian, you shouldn’t tell someone “don’t sin”.  Nothing can be farther from the truth.

    Why does Jesus tell her to go and sin no more?  Well sin is what got her in this spot in the first place.  It is why she was naked in the street about to be stoned.  That is part of sin that we believers need to remember; sin still causes pain.  Alcoholism still causes liver problems.  Adultery still destroys marriages.  Lying still destroys friendships.  Jealousy still wreaks havoc.  Sin still hurts.  Go and sin no more.

Father of all grace, sin is still a destructive force in our world.  It still tears down, pulls apart and causes so much pain.  As you forgive us, give us the wisdom to go and sin no more.  Be with those who continue in the destructive ways of sin.  Give them the eyes to see your truth.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret