Givers of Grace

"The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?'" John 8:3-5

Let's join the story...and we will call the woman, "Ray."

Ray attempted to spit out the dirt that coated the inside of her mouth from being thrown to the ground, and pushed herself onto her knees. A large crowd had gathered around her. They started at her with contempt, judgement, and blood-lust. A few of them were already holding stones!

"So what do you say?" said one gleeful looking Pharisees while the others nodded their agreement.

Ray's eyes met Jesus' for the first time. His eyes...they were filled with love and compassion, and something else. Was that pain? As if the sins she had committed had hurt Him. The emotion made her breath catch, and she ducked her head to avoid His gaze.

For the first time, in a very long time. Repentance and guilt squeezed her heart. But it was too late now. She was going to die in her sins.

"And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:7

Ray's head snapped up. What could that mean? Astonished she watched everyone leave, one by one. No one dared to say he was without sin. No one could! Soon it was just her and Jesus. She stared at Him, waiting. It felt like forever before he finally looked up from His writings in the dirt.

"Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'" John 8:10-11

Ray gasped. Grace! Grace! She stared at Him. This was no ordinary man. With all her heart she knew this was the One who could have her condemned. Instead, He chose to give her grace. Grace she did not deserve.

Jesus has given us undeserved grace. "They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by you great power and by your strong hand." Nehemiah 1:10

We all know how it feels to have someone you love, wound your heart. We want to hold onto that anger, and leave that person with the punishment they deserve. But that is not the example we have been given.

Jesus is the only one Who has the right to condemn. He is the only one Who has the right to those stones. We need to drop our stones, and hold out our hands. We need to follow His example. There is a time and a place for judgement, but it has never been our right. We have been given undeserved grace, so our job, is to be givers of grace as well. Give what we have been given.