Snapshots from El, Inc.

Grace

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?

11 No one, sir, she said.

Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin. (John 8:1-11)

Grace. Unmerited favor. Forgiveness undeserved, freely given.
And the source of my Joy.

Take a moment to re-read the passage slowly. Put yourself in the eyes and ears and beating heart of the woman caught in adultery. Let yourself feel the fear the gripped her heart as the Pharisees and teachers of the law dragged her from the place of her sin. Experience her overwhelming shame, the tears that burned in her eyes as they threw her before the scores of people in the temple. Picture the scornful glances of the people, the disdain in their eyes, mothers covering the eyes of their children.. Just for a moment, feel her despair.

Then close your eyes and look at the face of Jesus. No condemnation. Can you feel it? Can you see those eyes piercing you, not with scorn, but with love?
For a moment, all you can do is stare at Him. You're captivated by the love in those eyes. The world fades.. You stop seeing the disgust in the faces of the crowd. You barely hear the accusing cries of the Pharisees and teachers.

And then, you realize.. They're leaving! You look at the backs of the Pharisees and teachers, some shoulders slumped in defeat, some shaking with rage.. Stones all over the ground.
And you look back at Jesus, who's still kneeling on the ground with His finger in the sand. What was it He'd said? If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone..

What?? What just happened? You can't believe what's going on.. You'd feared the worst - expected pain, and a horrible death by stoning..
But now it's just you and Him.

Woman.

What?

Woman.

Not adulterer?

Hear Him call you by name. No labels, no condemnation - just you. Hear your name on His lips.

Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?

You're still in a daze..
No, sir.. No one's left to condemn me.

Then neither do I condemn you.

Oh.
WHAT?
Neither do you...
Oh, God..
Let those words sink in.
No condemnation.
No condemnation.
Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.

Wait a minute. What'd you say? Those two aren't supposed to mix, are they? The only people that don't condemn me are those who are in the same pit as I am, and they don't tell me to leave my life of sin. And the people that tell me to leave my life of sin are the ones that aren't in the pit with me - they always condemn me.
What, you mean there's hope??

Feel that thought resonate inside you. Feel the hope rising up, the life beginning to burst forth in your mind and heart and soul and spirit as your thinking is transformed.
There is HOPE.

Hope for freedom from sin. Hope that I will grow into the shoes He gave me - woman, not adulterer. Eric, Mike, Joel, Jessica, Anna, Caleb, Kathy.. Not sinner. Person.

Can you still see those eyes? Can you still feel that love, warm, all-encompassing, deep, unconditional?
My prayer for you is that those images and truths would be burned and written on the tablet of your heart.

Glory with me over the exquisite beauty of His grace.
Take time to be still in His presence and bask in His love. Hear Him call your Name. Let Him love you..

Let Him love you.

Labels: For the spirit

posted by Joel Chan @ 8:07 PM