Condemned
You know how you read the same passage or story in the Bible several times and all of the sudden, you see something or have some great insight that is all new? Well, I have been working on some lessons for my Wednesday night ladies class. This week, we studied the woman "caught in the act of adultery" from John 8. We had a great discussion and we touched on the teachers of the law attempting to trap Jesus, why Jesus kept coming to the temple courts, His bending down and writing in the sand, and all the other nuances, subtle or not, in this passage. It is a pretty amazing story and I have read and studied it many times.
This time, I learned something new. Remember this woman has been brought to Jesus by the teachers of the law. They want Jesus to stone her to death, in accordance with the law of Moses. Jesus stoops over to write in the sand, and very calmly says, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." (By the way, the only one present at the time who could do this was Jesus, Himself, the sinless Savior). The text says the men leave, starting with the oldest, until finally Jesus is left alone with the woman, sans accusers. Jesus asks her, "where are they? Is there no one here to condemn you?" She states "no one" to which Jesus replies, "neither do I condemn you ---go and leave your life of sin."
This incredible lesson on the sinfulness of man and the willing compassion of Christ is not lost on me. But, I found myself most interested in the last part of the story. So, I looked up the word, "condemn". I discovered it meant to be judged and sentenced, just as I thought. But there was also a secondary definition: to be unfit, or unsuitable, without usefulness, like a condemned building. Isn't that powerful? Jesus did not see this woman as unfit or unsuitable. He found her to be just the opposite. As He refuses to sentence her, He gives her a mandate--leave your life of sin. She is to be an example, an walking, talking, living testimony to the forgiving nature of Messiah. She is a live picture of the commuted sentence. She knows and He knows, in fact, everyone knows, she is guilty---she was caught in the very act. Yet, Jesus does not sentence her. Instead, He gives her a mission, a purpose, He makes her useful.
Too often in our lives, we are ready to condemn others. We see their sins and deem them unfit and without usefulness. We write them off spiritually. Sometimes we know our own sinfulness. In our guilt ridden souls, we condemn ourselves and feel unfit, unsuitable and without usefulness. And so we do nothing. But Jesus does not see us that way. He knows our sins---they were the nails holding Him to the cross. He knows our faults, but He sees our potential. He sees our hearts and rather than condemn us, He sees us as people of purpose. HE has a mission for us: Leave our sinful lives and tell everyone what He has done for us.
A house that is condemned is inhabitable. While sin and Satan's workings can damage us, Jesus repairs us with His blood and then the Spirit comes and lives within us---no longer condemned but useful, fit and purposed for Heaven's work. How cool is that?
Romans 8:1 "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Neva
This time, I learned something new. Remember this woman has been brought to Jesus by the teachers of the law. They want Jesus to stone her to death, in accordance with the law of Moses. Jesus stoops over to write in the sand, and very calmly says, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." (By the way, the only one present at the time who could do this was Jesus, Himself, the sinless Savior). The text says the men leave, starting with the oldest, until finally Jesus is left alone with the woman, sans accusers. Jesus asks her, "where are they? Is there no one here to condemn you?" She states "no one" to which Jesus replies, "neither do I condemn you ---go and leave your life of sin."
This incredible lesson on the sinfulness of man and the willing compassion of Christ is not lost on me. But, I found myself most interested in the last part of the story. So, I looked up the word, "condemn". I discovered it meant to be judged and sentenced, just as I thought. But there was also a secondary definition: to be unfit, or unsuitable, without usefulness, like a condemned building. Isn't that powerful? Jesus did not see this woman as unfit or unsuitable. He found her to be just the opposite. As He refuses to sentence her, He gives her a mandate--leave your life of sin. She is to be an example, an walking, talking, living testimony to the forgiving nature of Messiah. She is a live picture of the commuted sentence. She knows and He knows, in fact, everyone knows, she is guilty---she was caught in the very act. Yet, Jesus does not sentence her. Instead, He gives her a mission, a purpose, He makes her useful.
Too often in our lives, we are ready to condemn others. We see their sins and deem them unfit and without usefulness. We write them off spiritually. Sometimes we know our own sinfulness. In our guilt ridden souls, we condemn ourselves and feel unfit, unsuitable and without usefulness. And so we do nothing. But Jesus does not see us that way. He knows our sins---they were the nails holding Him to the cross. He knows our faults, but He sees our potential. He sees our hearts and rather than condemn us, He sees us as people of purpose. HE has a mission for us: Leave our sinful lives and tell everyone what He has done for us.
A house that is condemned is inhabitable. While sin and Satan's workings can damage us, Jesus repairs us with His blood and then the Spirit comes and lives within us---no longer condemned but useful, fit and purposed for Heaven's work. How cool is that?
Romans 8:1 "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Neva
posted by Neva | 9:23 AM
4 Comments:
That is awesome. I know exactly what you mean and it gives me chills!
That is awesome. It is nice to know Christ sees us as something valueable. Nicely written
Dean
The best one yet
Dan
That was wonderful. I read that passage many times but overlooked that part. I get so much out of your blog. I enjoy every post. Please dont ever stop writing you are very gifted. Thank you for the inspiration.
Jean
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