But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say? ” They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.
Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? ”
“No one, Lord,” she answered.
“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” – John 8:1-11
Such a beautiful picture of God’s grace. Both for the woman caught in adultery and the religious leaders who would have stoned her. Jesus stayed the woman’s execution and he also stood between the men and the evil they would have perpetrated…willing to kill her just to test Jesus.
When we pick up stones to throw at one another, we would do well to remember this and so many other accounts of Jesus showing grace. Because He loved/loves perfectly, He knows knows how to apply grace, and gives us the example to follow, in every situation. He was not soft on sin (He told the woman to put this sin behind her). He was not soft on sin, BUT He sought every instance to speak truth in love…to give grace.
He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. – John 4:6-8
I want to grow into this kind of grace with others…this kind of love that Christ taught and lived…and still does, as He intercedes for us in Heaven.
Do you know Ashley Alford on Facebook and Instagram? She goes by the name Honestly, Ashley. A Southern woman, a wife and mom, a writer and speaker. Most of all she talks Jesus in ways that strike to the heart. So real. No frills. Gut-honest. She sounds like a wise older woman who has lived a lot of life…but she’s just a young thing who needs never to feel restrained by her youth (as in Paul’s counsel to young Timothy.
She doesn’t want to throw rocks either. Why? I’m sure the reason is she has found Jesus to be completely worthy of her obedience…of a surrendered life. A life that chooses to love like He loves.
We matter to Him…each one of us and all of us.
Worship this Jesus with me to Micah Tyler‘s song I See Grace.
[Verse 1]
I’ve seen shame, the kind that comes from mistakes
The kind that won’t go away
When I turned around, they were right there to remind me
[Verse 2]
I’ve seen regret, the kind that messes with your head
The failures and the can’t-forgets
But standing here now, I’m thanking God it’s behind me
[Pre-Chorus]
‘Cause I’ve seen nail-scarred hands reach out
And wipe it all away, yeah
[Chorus]
Now I see grace
Hallelujah, I stand amazed
I’m starin’ at an empty grave
And the stone that You rolled away, yeah
When I was a prodigal, You saw a son
When I left the ninety-nine, You saw the one
And just like that, oh, my past has been erased
When I look back, I see grace
[Verse 3]
I still hurt, fall short of what You say I’m worth
And that devil says I don’t deserve
What You did on the cross, and he’s right, ’cause I don’t
But You did it anyway
[Chorus]
I see grace
Hallelujah, I stand amazed
I’m starin’ at an empty grave
And the stone that You rolled away, yeah
When I was a prodigal, You saw a son
When I left the ninety-nine, You saw the one
And just like that, oh, my past has been erased
When I look back, I see—
[Post-Chorus]
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all my sin
Thank God Almighty, gonna sing it again, oh
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all my sin
[Chorus]
I see grace
Hallelujah, I stand amazed
I’m starin’ at an empty grave
And the stone that You rolled away, ayy, ayy
I was a prodigal, You saw a son
When I left the ninety-nine, You saw the one
And just like that, oh, my past has been erased
When I look back, I see—
[Post-Chorus]
Grace (Grace, grace, God’s grace)
I see grace (Grace that is greater than all my sin)
(Thank God Almighty, gonna sing it again, oh)
Grace, oh, grace (Grace, grace, God’s grace)
Grace that is greater than all my sin*
*Lyrics to I See Grace – Songwriters: Micah Tyler, Matthew West, Zach Kale