In The Midst of Greatness
In The Midst of Greatness
Then the Scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery, and when they had set her in the midst … John 8:3
She was a woman facing certain death. No one cared if she had a motive for her actions.
No one was concerned about her past that may have propelled her life in this direction.
All the men wanted that day was more than justice.
This woman had committed an offense, that according to the law of Moses meant that she must be stoned to death.
Now if they really wanted her dead, they should have just stoned her and been done with it. Instead, they saw an opportunity to stump the teacher.
The first mistake they made is found when they brought her into the midst of the Master.
If you are ever planning evil against someone, never bring them in the midst of the Jesus.
After all saving her was not on their minds, they just wanted to humiliate her before the Lord.
This woman was caught up in a life that she had not planned.
No one wants to be found on the wrong end of stones.
Yet to those who like to throw them, it is a welcome opportunity.
It's funny how we get so Spiritual and high minded when others are found in sin.
Christians are often harder on each other than we should be. The truth is that we are all under the same blood. We are all unworthy to even speak the Name of Jesus except for his wonderful grace.
“So what about it, teacher? What should we do with this woman”, they asked.
Christ spoke stern and to the point with the question we must all ask ourselves, “you who are without sin, cast the first stone”.
As the question pierced the minds of those who sought vengeance reality set in.
The reality is that whenever you ask the Lord for advice, you better be ready to receive the answer . Those men weren't, so instead of making Jesus look foolish, they all left with their heads hung low.
When Jesus looked around and saw only the woman, a strange thing happen.
He didn't scold her, lecture her, or punish her. He simply forgive her.
Forgiveness, what a wonderful word , the second chance God comes through again.
The Savior showing why he holds all the answers. With His forgiveness He also gave her a choice to flee her past, and live a life of victory, or simply temporarily escape stones.
When Christ forgives us, we are free to look forward and forget the past.
We have the option of becoming something more than we were before , or we can remain in a life of defeat.
That's why he came, that's why he died, and that's why he rose from the grave, and that's why he lives. It's all about forgiveness.
This woman was not only saved from a physical death that day , but she was also saved from a spiritual death.
How many times the Lord has saved me from stones, I may never know.
All I know is Jesus saw past, the actions of a sinful woman , and saw her soul crying for forgiveness. If only we could do the same with people around us, perhaps the next time we get the urge to judge someone or maybe unwilling to forgive, let us think about the day we found ourselves in the midst of greatness and was able to escape the stones.
