It is always easy to point out the sin in others. If you ask two people at odds with one another, “What did they do wrong?” Both of them could possibly give you a laundry list of what the other person did wrong. But if you were to ask, “What did you do wrong?” It will usually be a very short answer. Why, because most people don’t see their wrongdoing as sin.
In John chapter eight, a woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus and her accusers wanted Jesus to have a put to death. Jesus responded to them by referencing their own sin: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (John 8:7). Here Jesus shows not only His God-given wisdom, but His amazing grace at the same time. He had been set up by His enemies, and He knew it. A woman rightly deserving death (according to the Mosaic Law, Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22) was thrown at His feet, while the manipulative and vile accusers demanded justice. They wanted to see Him squirm, but they were about to have the tables turned on them.
Christ stated purpose was not to “condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). No one really knows what Jesus wrote on the ground that day, but He likely breathed a prayer to His Father asking for the right wisdom during this very difficult and very important moment. His reply shows His genius, as does the results. The poor woman, once forgiven, saw the light and walked away free. Her accusers, once confronted, felt their guilt and walked away still in darkness. You see, Jesus knew a great deal about sin, for sin was the reason He had come to earth: to confront it, to defeat it, and to set people from it. Christ was an expert on sin though He had never sinned. He saw its effects on people every day and He spent the majority of His time bringing freedom to those caught in its grip of death. The woman’s accusers could have found the same forgiveness that the woman received that evening, but they chose to walk away from the very one who could give them eternal life, (John 10:10). The woman deserving death found eternal life.
When we are quick to judge others, it may be that they are actually closer to God than we are at the moment. They know their needs because they are obvious, whereas we are blinded to our needs by self-righteousness. Take a moment today to let God show you just how needy you are in His sight, and then provide the help you need through His Spirit to address each one of your needs one by one.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Pastor Ramon
Lead Pastor NSC
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