NONE

In John 8:1 - 11, a story is told of a REAL LIFE sinner. So real, the story lets us know that there was no room for doubt about the sin nor the guilt of it. No room - because the sinner was "caught in the very act" of the sin. The sin - adultery.

To get the full story - you need to understand a few things.

1 - For whatever reason the men knew that this woman "would". Somehow they knew that they could use her to try to set Jesus up on how He'd deal with this sin & the sinner. Did they know she "would" because she had before? Was she easy? We don't know - but they picked her for some obvious reason. I guess you could say she had a reputation.

2 - The people wanted to set Jesus up - because the LAW said that this sin warranted death as the punishment. The law said both parties should be stoned to death. The trick to this is that Jesus didn't come to break any law. The Bible says that He came to fulfil the law. So, how would Jesus save her life and not break the law?

So, Jesus what do you say about that? What can you offer a full blown sinner?

How will you not break the law and yet not have the guilty destroyed?

Picture it

They have literally dragged this woman from the act to the feet of Jesus. They are standing there - without any question of the guilt nor of the consequence. So, they drag her there each with a stone, or many stones, the size of a man's fist in their hands - ready to begin the killing. Now the story doesn't say - but the man (the other 1/2 of the sin) is most likely in on it and now standing at best in the crowd - at worst with a stone in his hand.

She, cowered in fear, lying on the ground - half dressed and about to die. A pawn with a reputation...

So

Jesus bends down and begins to write in the sand. What He writes we aren't privy to...but write He does. Whatever He writes convicts their hardened hearts.

Then

He says this - "let whoever is without sin - cast the FIRST stone". I.e. Let the one here without any sin begin the stoning party.

The Bible says that rather than killing her - they EACH began to drop their stone (source of inflicting pain) and returned to their home.

Jesus then asked the sinner a question - "where are your accusers - have you NONE?" She - the sinner about to die - the guilty one - answers - "NONE Lord". Jesus replies, "neither do I condemn you...Go and sin no more"...

WOW!

NONE! Why? Do you see it? Jesus somehow leveled the playing field of life. He caused each of them to realize that NONE of them were without SIN of their own! I.e. NONE of them had any right to throw a stone...

Jesus was the PERFECT ONE - He was the one that had the right to throw the first stone. Yet He chose to offer love, forgiveness, a future...

You see when they were made to be honest with themselves - EACH came to realize that NONE of them had a right to do damage to another - let alone destroy anyone.

Think about it - If EACH person just threw ONE stone a piece - it's not any ONE stone that would kill her. It's the CUMULATIVE effect of them all that would take her life.

So, depending on what side you wanted to end up on - each person could conclude either -
* I just threw ONE stone - I didn't kill her
OR
* EACH could intend on their STONE being the ONE. Each could be so enraged that they fully intended on being the ONE that destroyed her.

Either way - once the stone left your their hand - no matter it couldn't be taken back.

THEN

If by any chance the sinner survived (which was legally impossible by the LAW) they would wear the SCARS forever - EACH inflicted by SINNERS just like her.

So what?

So - Jesus teaches us -

We are all sinners...

We tend to "judge" others by our own opinion of sin - subjectively.

Not only are we to NOT destroy a SINNER - we are to do them NO HARM (throw no stones) either.

An old Spanish proverb says it like this "Those who live in GLASS houses shouldn't throw stones".

Jesus said - those without sin should throw the first stone & not one qualified - no one has yet.

So, according to Jesus...NEXT time you see a real sinner - realize (remember?) that sin comes with enough of it's own consequences - you don't need to add any nor should you harm them further. Lastly, no matter how frenzied the MOB - don't get caught up with it all. The person you are about to harm is exactly that - another human being. Only now in great need...

I guess we ALL live in glass houses of some sort and therefore none should be throwing any stones at anyone.

I can't help but wonder - what did they say to her or think the next time they ran into this SINNER? What about her - what were her thoughts or what did she say?

Not one qualified to throw a stone...NONE!

Peace...

The Parable of the Feathers

I TAKE IT BACK



Once upon a time a certain man went to the town monk. “Monk,” confesses he, “I have been slandering you to my neighbors. I am truly sorry for what I’ve said and how I’ve treated you. I take back all the bad I have said. How may I find penance?” The monk nods, then sagely proffers this instruction: “Go pluck 3 chickens. Stuff a bag with the feathers, then place one feather on every doorstep where you have slandered me. Return to me when you complete your task.”



Scurrying away, the villager meticulously complies. He returns to the monk the next day.
“Monk,” smiles he, “I have completed your instruction. What should I do now?” “Now?” “Now,” intones the monk, “go collect back every feather.” “But, but,” splutters the villager, “this task is impossible, it has been an entire night the wind has blown the feathers in all directions.” The monk nods in agreement, turns, and walks away.



The moral? Words are important. The Bible says that our words contain either life or death! Once words leaves your lips, you can’t take them back and you cannot control where they go from there. Wherever they go - they are bringing either life or death to a person or situation. When you accuse a person of something, or "spread a rumor", whether it's grounded in truth or not, everyone who hears your comment will form an opinion about that person based on your words. What if your words are wrong or biased and slanted or not complete? Another problem with rumors is that there is an assumption on the part of both the basher and the listener that the words being spoken are right. What if you are wrong?

The worth, character, integrity, value and veracity and the future of a person cannot be judged based on his or her mistakes or failings alone. Isn't that what Christ came to resolve? A person is the sum total of all his/her failings and triumphs and achievements, bad decisions and good, wise ones, etc. It is easy to try and destroy a person’s reputation, but much more difficult to help restore it. If they have done enough damage to themselves already - why hurt them further?


Just a thought...

By the way - I shared this parable years ago regarding the power of our words/rumors. It's been on my mind a lot lately - so I thought I'd share it. The Bible is very specific about us wounding one another...about things we say...about things we even think about...

This is really about how you treat each and every person in your life. If you know of someone in your life-circle that's down - at the very least - do them no more harm. Because, as hard as it may be to believe - each of us will be down at some time in our life...each and every one of us!



Peace.


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