Neither do I condemn you.

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 8:8-11 NRSV

Act three of this moving biblical drama begins when the first stone hits the ground. All of the stone throwers have left. The adulteress is now alone with Jesus. I wonder what emotions were flooding her mind? Just a few minutes ago she feared an imminent and painful death. In her wildest dreams she never imagined an ending such as this.

Do you find it interesting that this woman did not ask to be forgiven? I wonder if she prayed as she was being dragged to Jesus? What did she think Jesus would say? Could she have ever imagined that Jesus would look past every one of her condemning thoughts? This passage speaks so deeply to me about how I am forgiven and freed from condemnation.

Thank you Lord for the forgiving love that you show me and the condemnation that you have delivered me from.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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He Straightened Up

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. -John 8:6-9 NRSV

Part two of this three act passage. The prosecution thought they had Jesus dead to rights. They had divine law on their side. How could Jesus refute Moses. This adulterous woman was certainly guilty and deserving of stoning. Jesus did not have a proverbial leg to stand on. Yet in a beautiful moment Jesus stood and everything changed.

This passage shames everyone who is thirsty for judgment. Jesus exposes each of us who would judge another human being. With the words "without sin" he tells each of us that the log in our own eye is the sin that disqualifies us from passing judgment. Christ removes all excuses and causes us to drop our judgmental stones.

Forgive me Lord. I have judged the ones that you love. Help me to offer mercy when tempted to judge.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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Moses commanded us to stone such women.

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. -John 8:3-6 NRSV

This is part one of a three part story. I call this part "The Accusation". Interesting how often people use religious rules and laws to accuse another. More interesting in this case that only the woman was accused. Mosaic law commanded that the man should also be stoned. Hard to believe that religious people would act with such self-righteous cruelty.

I often hear the phrase: "Love the sinner but hate the sin". My response is: "Hate your own sin". Do you see how this applies to these religious leaders? Would that they sincerely loved this hurting woman and hated their own self-righteousness. Perhaps they would have, in humility, brought this woman to Jesus for healing instead of condemnation?

Dear Father, bring us to a place of examination where we are able to take the logs out of our own eyes.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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Never has anyone spoken like this!

Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.” -John 7:45-49 NRSV

Jesus spoke amazing words of life, compassion and healing, yet some believed him to be a heretic. Faith and hope were birthed in many who heard him speak. But sadly, those who were bound up in religion proudly opposed Jesus and his message of mercy and compassion. Small wonder that Christ called them hypocrites devoid of mercy.

And even today, leaders still seems to be preoccupied with religious orthodoxy more than they are with mercy and compassion. I sometimes wonder if they would recognize Christ if he appeared to them today. These who are versed in doctrine, would they too call others accursed? Or would they repent of their narrow orthodoxy and welcome them?

Help is Lord to be people who welcome those who welcome you.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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There was division ... because of Him.

Some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.  [John 7:40-44 NRSV]

Throughout history there has been divisions about the identity of Christ. Theologians have sometimes called it a trilemma. Scottish preacher John Duncan put it this way: "Christ either deceived mankind by conscious fraud, or He was Himself deluded and self-deceived, or He was Divine. There is no getting out of this trilemma. It is inexorable."

Interesting how Jesus could have settled much of this when he became man. He could have come like Superman and showed us his physical strength. He could have gone around saying that he is the messiah. But he seemed to want to remain anonymous. He was happy with being Clark Kent. He left so much of this identity thing to faith.

Open the eyes of our hearts Lord that we might see you and understand who you really are.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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Rivers of Living Water

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. -John 7:37-39 NRSV

This is one of my favorite Jesus quotes. He does not say that believing in him will cause a person to get their act together and be more religious but speaks of an inner change that erupts into life giving water. Being a Christian has never been about following religious rules. That was what got the Pharisees in trouble. They worked from the outside in.

Being a Christian has always been about a new heart. A spiritual birth. Inner life that grows from birth to infancy to maturity. Something that flows like a river from our innermost being. My life changed dramatically when I was born of the Spirit so many years ago. My desires changed as I felt the Spirit flow from deep within in me.

Help me Lord to live from my new heart. Cause me to remember who I am and who I am called to be.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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I am going to him who sent me.

Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, ‘You will search for me and you will not find me’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?” -John 7:33-36 NRSV

It is easy for us to look back and understand that Jesus was speaking of returning to his Father in heaven. Many things that are apparent today seemed hidden back then. I mean really, who could have foreseen the turn of events that led up to Jesus being crucified? Yet in this passage we understand that Jesus has seen his future suffering and death.

Sometimes I wish that I had an understanding of my future. Other times I am glad that our Father has not chosen to reveal it to me. Yet while I do not know the details of my earthly death I am overjoyed that God has told me a bit of the place I will go after I die. A place with no pain and no tears. An eternal home where I am loved. A destination filled with God.

Thank you Lord for the hope of heaven. May I live today as one who knows his heavenly citizenship.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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