The Hardest Lesson
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?"
This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."
And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
She said, "No one, Lord."
And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." John 8:1-11
Insight
Before I started my relationship with Jesus, still in college, I read this scripture through the lens of "Jesus forgives us no matter what, so why are Christians so hung up on making people who are living differently than them feel bad for it? Can't they just live and let live?"
Let me preface this because I grew up in a conservative, Christian home - for the most part. We went to a Pentecostal church with southern Christian beliefs and values. When I left for college, I had what I think most kids that age have - a realization, or questioning, of 'why do I believe any of this anyway?' Leaving home started this period where I wanted to do what I wanted to do, still believing that God probably existed, but also not caring about what that meant.
Now, having built an intentional relationship with Jesus over the last five years after graduating college, I've realized that my prior view of John 8:1-11 is both right and also wrong.
Jesus forgives. That's the one piece of truth I held onto in all my questioning and walking away, but I also abused that truth. I used it as an excuse for the sin in my life. The Christians around me would tell me I was wrong in the choices I was making, but it wasn't until I had a real encounter with Jesus that I didn't want to keep living the way I was living anymore. I wanted to live by His standards, not mine. Jesus elicits the heart change when we encounter Him, and Him alone.
Jesus does forgive us no matter what - truth. But that doesn't mean we should turn blind eyes and "live and let live" to those around us, or even ourselves. Now, being a Christian, I also recognize that it's not our job to condemn those around us, either. Christians are especially not supposed to look at those who are not Christians and condemn them, even though that's honestly the easier thing to do.
Being a Christian, I think the hardest lesson to learn is that if something in your walk looks like the easy thing to do, it's probably not the right thing to do. Loving the people who live differently from you is hard, but it is exactly what we are called to do. Love; not condemn. We are called into the hard stuff, not to fall into the temptation of easy actions. If we are honest with ourselves, walking with Jesus has a cost. And if our walk with Christ costs us nothing, or if it only costs us one Sunday a week - then we are doing it all wrong.
I'm also reminded of what Jesus spoke in Matthew 7:1-5 about judging others. "Judge not, that you be not judged…why do you see the speck in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" I'm always struck by that - a speck versus a log. What a difference! Yet it's all the same to Jesus.
I can't help but wonder what Jesus was writing in the sand as those who wanted to condemn that woman and test Jesus stood around waiting for an answer. Jesus responding, "let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her," is what sent them away. Their judgemental absence allowed space for Jesus and the woman to have an encounter that ended with Jesus dismissing her with the words, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." Jesus being the only one without sin among them that could have thrown stones. But he didn't. And He won't because love is His action.
Some takeaways from all of this - judgment is the responsibility of God only. Our responsibility, our highest calling as followers of Christ, is to love (1 Corinthians 13:13 - so now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love) and trust that Jesus is going to do the heart surgery that we simply cannot.
Reflection
In what areas of your own life do you find yourself judging others around you?
What do YOU think Jesus was writing in the sand?
How can you take steps to love the people around you better?
Prayer
Jesus, I recognize You as being the heart surgeon I need - the heart surgeon every person needs. I know and trust that You will create heart change in others that will set their hearts in pursuit of You. God, help me daily to be the love You call me out to be. Help me to love others toward You, Lord. Let love come easier than judgment. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
Port City writer Sarah Banks wrote today's devotional.
