“They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ” All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones! “John 8:7 TLB
“When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.”
John: 8:9 TLB
This story took place when the teachers of the law brought the woman caught “in the very act” of adultery before Jesus, and demanded that she be stoned to death because of the law of Moses. The Lord said they could go ahead and do stone her, with the caveat that the one without sin should be the first to throw a stone. Well, as we all know, we are not without sin, and as such being convicted, they retreated and left the woman alone with Jesus.
In our daily lives, we see people in the very “act” of doing something wrong. It could be a child breaking something at home, a spouse ‘catching’ the other in the very act of adultery, a person caught doing drugs or stealing; and the list goes on and on. We are quick to blame, judge, condemn and cast away such people as “unfit for purpose”. We are quick to shame, disgrace, curse and reject them because of the evil the person has done. It is possible to think that God will never accept them, or that our judgement of such a person is the same as that of the Lord. I’m guilty of this – yes; have I also ever been the accused – yes. I think most people have been on both sides.
Now, in the verse above, when they heard what Jesus said, they all went away. Why? Because they were not without sin.
We have to at every given time think about our own standing before God. Yes this person was caught in the very act; but what about us? How does God see us? Is he pleased with us? Are we doing his will? The word says in 2 Cor 5:10 that we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ and give an account of what we have done in our bodies (not what someone else has done) whether good or bad. In as much as we are our brothers keeper, we must take care of our standing with God first.
Gal 6:1 says ”Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
1 John 1:8-9 says that if we say we are without sin, then we are deceived and the truth is not in us but if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We have to be masters of our own actions, constantly seeking God for mercy for our wrong doings.
Now how do we handle the mistakes of others? Well we can only learn from Jesus, and follow what is written in the word of God. We need the grace of God to be upon us to be gracious like Jesus. It is a journey and one day we will get there. The word says we should look unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. Heb 12:2.
“Has anyone condemned you”,was Jesus’ question after her accusers departed.
“No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more. ” John 8:11
Let’s pray 🙏
Father thank you for your longsuffering towards us. If You were to mark our iniquity, Your word says who can stand? We ask for Your grace to look diligently so that we don’t fall from Your grace. We ask that You help us to stand perfect and complete in all Your will and help us to walk in love towards others. We ask this in Jesus’s name, Amen 🙏
http://www.lovefoundmeblog.co.uk
Chara-Joy 🌸 