Mercy - John 8 :1-11
Mercy - John 8 :1-11
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I am LaDonna Sanders, your Host!
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Mercy
John 8:1-11
Verses 1 and 2, "But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning, He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them." Jesus spent time in God's presence, which facilitated His ability to share something of value to those drawn to Him. He went to a secluded place free of distractions to communion with His creator, God the Father. In the middle of his teaching, the religious leaders of that day brought a woman, caught in the very act of sin, to Him. They were looking for an opportunity to discredit him among his followers, looking to see if Jesus would suggest something different from the Mosaic law, a highly regarded law by the Jewish people. Verse 3 – 7, "Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery, and when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" "This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So, when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."
The religious leaders of that day were prejudiced and viewed women as less than. It is illustrated in their accusatory and fault-finding behavior. Jesus responds to this messiness with silence. First, the scripture says He acted as though He did not hear them. Then Jesus stooped, stood down on the ground, and wrote something with His fingers. Maybe He called out their sin and prejudice by writing, "Where's the man," or "Which one of you was she with?" The scripture does not indicate what he wrote, but as they pressed Him to judge her, He later says, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." In other words, if you are qualified to judge this woman, then, by all means, throw the first stone, go ahead! This scripture prompts self-assessment and encourages us to recognize that we all need God's mercy and forgiveness, and none are without sin. Therefore, we should leave the judging to God and pray for each other.
Verses 8-11, "And again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went one by one—beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours?" Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more." Every day we each have an opportunity to repent and move forward differently. We can choose to spend time accusing others and concentrating on someone else's sin or cherish and embrace the new mercies granted to us each morning.
Lamentations 3:22- 23 says, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." Each day, we are granted new mercies. God knows some of us surely exhausted yesterday's mercies! Yet, every day we awake, we can repent and turn away from our sins and Idolatry, things we allow a higher place in our hearts than God. We can start a new and surrender our hearts and lives to Jesus and ask Him to rule and guide our lives for His glory. We can go and sin no more!
Let us pray,
Lord, I thank you for your great grace. Thank you for your tender mercies and for the opportunity to start again with you. Lord, I repent of my sins and Idolatry, things I have held higher in my heart and given more attention than you. Forgive me, Father, and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Lord, I thank you because you are bigger than prejudice, and in you, there is no condemnation. In Christ Jesus, my sins and the sins of others against me have been washed away. I bring them all this day to the cross. I ask you, Lord, Jesus to forgive me, to heal every wounded place in my heart, to forgive those who have sinned against me, and to help me to walk according to the Spirit, being led each moment of my day by your precious Holy Spirit, In Jesus Name, Amen!
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Thank you for listening, and remember that God loves you, and he wants you well, in your mind, body, soul, and Spirit. God Bless!