A sermon I just experienced on YouTube made me want to dig. Then God handed me a HUGE metaphorical shovel. This is the revelation of Grace, and of God, and of Forgiveness which continues to expand itself into my life consistently, and relentlessly. I'm not meaning to get preachy. However, I live in a broken world where people feel like the subject of "GOD" is awkward. This might be a result of negative experiences or exposures to religion. For this, I'm sorry you went through that. However, God is a God of grace, love, and comfort. I apologize that you were forced you to go to church as a child, or maybe some crazy fanatic forced sin and condemnation down your throat. I hardly blame those to be afraid of religious imposition. Regardless, if you continue to read I assure you I'm not forcing you to read, but perhaps you're drawn to these conclusions? Only you can answer that.
Allow me to crack my knuckles and turn my iTunes up. I write better that way.
Interesting that I'm writing to the sweet sounds of Nirvana's "Come as you Are".
John chapter 8 says this coming from The Message.
"Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religious 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."
So here we have Jesus, the Man witha plan. The ultimate preacher. When we're introduced to Him in this chapter we notice something very unique to His character. Something that separates Him from our our common preachers or religious leaders. It's almost the polar opposite characteristic of an "Open Air Preacher" that you would see on a street corner or a college campus. You know who I'm talking about. Flailing the Bible around screaming at passers by about sin, hell, repentance, and the wrath of God? Yeah, Jesus wasn't really like that. Sure, He flipped a couple tables in His day but with pretty good reason. I mean, thieves were in His Father's house. I'd be pretty upset, too. Regardless, this is just another day for Jesus. It even says in every translation that He "sits down", and people approached Him. No calling or billboard signs for this guy. No info-mercials for infinite wisdom or salvation. Jesus shows up and people approach the guy? Wow. Kind of makes me wonder what it was about Him that drew people to Him. Was Jesus 'seeker friendly'? Hmmm. Well, He certainly wasn't putting an effort into scaring people out of hell. He seemed kind of calm and collected. The kind of guy I can cast my anxieties upon. At least that's what I notice not only through scripture, but just my relationship with Him. The way He speaks to my heart is so.....awesome. Jesus is the one being in existence that I'm not intimidated by. Sure, there's an underlying fear, but not the 'oh I'm scared' fear. More like a fear based on respect, honor, and love. Don't get me wrong, Jesus is no big softy that tells me what I want to hear. He's a comforter, and He's a teacher. He disciplines me, but He doesn't have to yell at me to get His point across. It's the kind of discipline that proves His love for me. What motivates obedience and discipline? Keep reading.
If anyone were more irritated by this crazy traveler they call Yeshua, it was the religious. I find it amusing when a religious person becomes irritated when I speak of Grace and Love from my King. It's affirmation that Jesus lives within me. Or how about when Hollywood offends Christians by making movies like "Saved!", "The Davinci Code", or "Harry Potter". Then Conservative Connie gets all up in arms and writes whoever it is she writes to about how she's a concerned mother and doesn't want her children to be exposed to these 'abominations' in movies. Maybe Hollywood is more Christlike then we thought? Or maybe not. Oh yeah, to the conservative Connies of the world, if you're concerned about the kids why not waste that energy on serving at a Childrens burn center? You'll get more done, I promise. Hollywood isn't going to stop making movies that offend you.
Back to the point....
Many theologians make the mistake by assuming this woman in John 8 is a prostitue, however the scriputre never describes her as such. All we know is it's a woman caught in the act of adultery. 2000 years ago, caught in the act of adultery could have meant a lot of things. Yet the passage, if read carefully enough, you would notice that the scribes were plotting to trap Jesus so they could charge Him with a crime. The woman may not of even been guilty in the first place! They asked Him a simple question. "We caught this woman red-handed doing something that is punishable by death. What do you say, Jesus? Should she be killed according to the law of Moses?" Still keeping His cool, Jesus did something I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!!! Something I wish I could do more often. He thinks before He speaks. What came out of His mouth next blew them away. One at a time, in fact. Beginning with the eldest.
"He who is without sin, cast the first stone." Wow. Cryptic, yet insightful.
So after they all left, it is the basic understanding that the woman was standing there alone with Jesus. Just the two of them. I chuckle as I write that. Jesus was alone with a girl? In some churches, that's a questionable situation for a male leader to be alone with a female even in a public place. Shouldn't they have someone there for accountability? Oh dear. Sounds like potential for pointless Church Drama. Jesus should be asked to remove Himself from ministry because of such conduct. The idea of a male and female being alone together is shunned by the 'you can never be too careful', life-limiting congregations that destroy the essence of Grace. Sure, it's something we should be aware of, and to discern cautiousness is wise. Yet, the intense ideas of strict behavior modification supresses the potential freedom and confidence we have in Christ. Such situations as a guy and a girl going out for coffee as friends can be blown way out of proportion. This leaves a bad taste in the mouths of unbelievers and believers such as myself. Another subject, for another time.
Here's the Cherry on top. The whole entire climax of this story is in the beautiful words of a loving messiah. This is my JESUS, this is the King of Kings. What He does next is why I love Him so much. Jesus asks a question that He very well knows the answer to, but in order for the woman to better understand the situation, He wants her to answer it for herself. He asks, "Where did they go? Did anybody sentence you?" When she says, "No, sir" I can only begin to imagine the overwhelming joy that came upon her. Probably brought her to tears. Then Jesus says, "I don't condemn you, either. Go and stop sinning." <----look at the order in which He said that.
So many times the idea of forgiveness is taken out of context, in which Forgiveness loses its meaning. Today's modern pulpit will tell someone under reproach for questionable conduct, "Sin no more, and you will be forgiven." However....Jesus says, "You are forgiven, go and sin no more." Here's the difference. The Lord offered forgiveness, and freed her from condemnation before He commanded her to be obedient. Forgiveness is an unearned empowerment making us capable of fleeing from sin. Persuing the very idea that WE are forgiven. That's true repentance. (That's going to be a fun blog to write.) Forgiveness has the power to free us from condemnation, and to motivate us toward God. How awesome it is that we are free from our transgressions by the forgiveness of Christ and not by our own effort to 'be good'. Forgiveness motivates us toward doing what is good, and what is right. We don't have to exhaust ourselves trying to earn something we've already been given freely. THAT is good news.
"Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religious 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."
So here we have Jesus, the Man witha plan. The ultimate preacher. When we're introduced to Him in this chapter we notice something very unique to His character. Something that separates Him from our our common preachers or religious leaders. It's almost the polar opposite characteristic of an "Open Air Preacher" that you would see on a street corner or a college campus. You know who I'm talking about. Flailing the Bible around screaming at passers by about sin, hell, repentance, and the wrath of God? Yeah, Jesus wasn't really like that. Sure, He flipped a couple tables in His day but with pretty good reason. I mean, thieves were in His Father's house. I'd be pretty upset, too. Regardless, this is just another day for Jesus. It even says in every translation that He "sits down", and people approached Him. No calling or billboard signs for this guy. No info-mercials for infinite wisdom or salvation. Jesus shows up and people approach the guy? Wow. Kind of makes me wonder what it was about Him that drew people to Him. Was Jesus 'seeker friendly'? Hmmm. Well, He certainly wasn't putting an effort into scaring people out of hell. He seemed kind of calm and collected. The kind of guy I can cast my anxieties upon. At least that's what I notice not only through scripture, but just my relationship with Him. The way He speaks to my heart is so.....awesome. Jesus is the one being in existence that I'm not intimidated by. Sure, there's an underlying fear, but not the 'oh I'm scared' fear. More like a fear based on respect, honor, and love. Don't get me wrong, Jesus is no big softy that tells me what I want to hear. He's a comforter, and He's a teacher. He disciplines me, but He doesn't have to yell at me to get His point across. It's the kind of discipline that proves His love for me. What motivates obedience and discipline? Keep reading.
If anyone were more irritated by this crazy traveler they call Yeshua, it was the religious. I find it amusing when a religious person becomes irritated when I speak of Grace and Love from my King. It's affirmation that Jesus lives within me. Or how about when Hollywood offends Christians by making movies like "Saved!", "The Davinci Code", or "Harry Potter". Then Conservative Connie gets all up in arms and writes whoever it is she writes to about how she's a concerned mother and doesn't want her children to be exposed to these 'abominations' in movies. Maybe Hollywood is more Christlike then we thought? Or maybe not. Oh yeah, to the conservative Connies of the world, if you're concerned about the kids why not waste that energy on serving at a Childrens burn center? You'll get more done, I promise. Hollywood isn't going to stop making movies that offend you.
Back to the point....
Many theologians make the mistake by assuming this woman in John 8 is a prostitue, however the scriputre never describes her as such. All we know is it's a woman caught in the act of adultery. 2000 years ago, caught in the act of adultery could have meant a lot of things. Yet the passage, if read carefully enough, you would notice that the scribes were plotting to trap Jesus so they could charge Him with a crime. The woman may not of even been guilty in the first place! They asked Him a simple question. "We caught this woman red-handed doing something that is punishable by death. What do you say, Jesus? Should she be killed according to the law of Moses?" Still keeping His cool, Jesus did something I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!!! Something I wish I could do more often. He thinks before He speaks. What came out of His mouth next blew them away. One at a time, in fact. Beginning with the eldest.
"He who is without sin, cast the first stone." Wow. Cryptic, yet insightful.
So after they all left, it is the basic understanding that the woman was standing there alone with Jesus. Just the two of them. I chuckle as I write that. Jesus was alone with a girl? In some churches, that's a questionable situation for a male leader to be alone with a female even in a public place. Shouldn't they have someone there for accountability? Oh dear. Sounds like potential for pointless Church Drama. Jesus should be asked to remove Himself from ministry because of such conduct. The idea of a male and female being alone together is shunned by the 'you can never be too careful', life-limiting congregations that destroy the essence of Grace. Sure, it's something we should be aware of, and to discern cautiousness is wise. Yet, the intense ideas of strict behavior modification supresses the potential freedom and confidence we have in Christ. Such situations as a guy and a girl going out for coffee as friends can be blown way out of proportion. This leaves a bad taste in the mouths of unbelievers and believers such as myself. Another subject, for another time.
Here's the Cherry on top. The whole entire climax of this story is in the beautiful words of a loving messiah. This is my JESUS, this is the King of Kings. What He does next is why I love Him so much. Jesus asks a question that He very well knows the answer to, but in order for the woman to better understand the situation, He wants her to answer it for herself. He asks, "Where did they go? Did anybody sentence you?" When she says, "No, sir" I can only begin to imagine the overwhelming joy that came upon her. Probably brought her to tears. Then Jesus says, "I don't condemn you, either. Go and stop sinning." <----look at the order in which He said that.
So many times the idea of forgiveness is taken out of context, in which Forgiveness loses its meaning. Today's modern pulpit will tell someone under reproach for questionable conduct, "Sin no more, and you will be forgiven." However....Jesus says, "You are forgiven, go and sin no more." Here's the difference. The Lord offered forgiveness, and freed her from condemnation before He commanded her to be obedient. Forgiveness is an unearned empowerment making us capable of fleeing from sin. Persuing the very idea that WE are forgiven. That's true repentance. (That's going to be a fun blog to write.) Forgiveness has the power to free us from condemnation, and to motivate us toward God. How awesome it is that we are free from our transgressions by the forgiveness of Christ and not by our own effort to 'be good'. Forgiveness motivates us toward doing what is good, and what is right. We don't have to exhaust ourselves trying to earn something we've already been given freely. THAT is good news.
Thank goodness we don't have to earn his forgiveness, it's just freely given. Nicely said, Grant. :)
ReplyDelete