no one…

170314Then each of them went home, while 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 began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” (John 7:53-8:11, NRSV)

Jesus was in the temple and the leaders brought a woman caught in the act of adultery. Now, why only the woman, because that was the mind frame of the time, and the woman was guilty, but the man, well. But they bring this woman who should be stoned to Jesus and ask Him what should they do.

Jesus looks at the leaders and says, “Let the one among you, who is without sin, cast the first stone.”

And one by one I imagine they drop their rocks and walk away with their heads down.

And then Jesus asks the woman where are those who were condemning you? And they were gone, no one was found to condemn her. And the one who could have cast the first stone says, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”

Jesus came to save us, not condemn us. The law is about love, to fulfill the law, we love others.

Chosen

170313Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4, NRSV)

God chose Abram and called him to go from his homeland.

God promised to make him a great nation and that God would bless Him and make his name great.

And Abram believed and followed where God was leading him.

Remember just like Abram you too are chosen, and God is asking you to follow.

condemn or save

170312Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:1-17, NRSV)

This is a great passage of scripture that raises many questions. It also has one of the most quoted Bible verses John 3:16. I don’t think that John 3:16 is complete without 3:17 though.

You see Nicodemus knows that Jesus is a great teacher and so he goes to Jesus at night to hide his seeking. Their discussion goes deep and Nicodemus wonders about birth of water and Spirit and how all fo this happens. But you see Jesus did not condemn Nicodemus for not getting it. He kept telling him things to try and help him. And if we follow Nicodemus through the gospel of John we see him growing as a disciple. He comes first under darkness here in chapter 3, then in chapter 7 Nicodemus speaks in Jesus’ defense at the high council meeting, and then we see him in public removing Jesus’ body from the cross and helping to put Him in the tomb. Slow steady growth.

For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, that who so ever should believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. This is true, God loved us so much that He sent His son to die so that we can have life in Him. But God did not send His son to condemn us, God sent His Son so that the world might be saved through Him. Jesus came to show us how to live as God’s children and to help us embrace our lives as God children, not to tell us once and when we don’t get it to condemn us. No Jesus came to save us all.

Joy of forgiveness

170311Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.  You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you. Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart. (Psalm 32, NRSV)

There is a joy in releasing a sin.

There is joy in confessing a wrong.

There is joy in finding love pouring over us freely.

God delights in our confession, not because we have sinned, but because we release the hurt and the wrong to Him and seek after His mercy and dwelling in His shelter.

So hide in God and seek His forgiveness, and in that, you will find overflowing joy!