My church
did an amazing Easter service today. The band is beyond outstanding, so the
music is fabulous. Our pastor finished his ‘Dangerous’ series and I think this
is probably the best Easter service I’ve been to in years!
The passage
today struck a chord with me. I’ve read it a million times and I know what it
means, but one part that was brought up was looked at in a different light. For
me, anyway.
John 8:6-11 (NASB)
6 They were saying this, testing
Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped
down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But
when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He
who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again
He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When
they heard it, they began to
go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and
the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up,
Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She
said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either.
Go. From now on sin no more.”
To understand what is going on here, you need to
know that Pharisees and teachers of the law had brought a woman who had been
accused of adultery before Jesus. They wanted to trap Him.
Do you see what Jesus did in verses 6 and 8? He stooped
down and was writing in the dirt with His finger.
What if He was writing the sins of the Pharisees
and teachers of the law on the ground for everyone to see? Eventually those who
had brought the woman before Jesus were gone, leaving the two of them. Jesus
did not condemn the woman, but told her “Go and sin no more.” He wanted her to
change her life in a drastic way. He did not condemn her for the things she had
done prior to meeting Him and believing in Him. She was to change her life.
Throwing the first stone at someone for their
sin.. shameful. It is like saying a person (who throws the stone) is ‘holier
than thou.’ Why, because they wear a suit and a tie every Sunday? Because they
sing the right songs? Or serve in the right places?
What about the things those 'holier than thou' types do Monday through
Saturday? Jesus sees those things too.
He is the Christ. The King of Kings, Lord of Lords.
Jesus is the Great I Am.
Jesus loves you. He died for you. We celebrate
Easter because He rose from the dead and is seated in Heaven.
Jesus can see into us.. through us.. and yet… He
died for us. All of those things you think are too terrible for anyone to know?
Jesus knows. He loves you anyway. He wants to erase the sins you have in your life and help move you forward.
If you are in Colorado Springs on Sundays, come
worship at Discovery Church Colorado, 4304 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. Services are at
9 AM and 11 AM. Come and see… see what this is all about.
