People sometimes set Love and God’s word against one another.
The Pharisees brought a woman … They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
John 8v3-5
Jesus’ opponents want him to choose between love and faithfulness to God’s word. This is done in a crowd for maximum embarrassment. I am reminded of the verse –
Love and faithfulness meet together, righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Psalm 85v10
In the Lord love and faithfulness are resolved with grace.
but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.
John 8v6
When I am pressing for something I should be leaving alone, the Lord usually sends a distraction. When he does, wisdom let’s the matter drop.
They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”
John 8v7
Jesus puts the question back to the Pharisees. He challenges the accusers’ integrity to the law they were claiming to uphold. They quietly leave.
“Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
John 8v10-11
Jesus then challenges the woman. No one is let off.
Jesus challenges those wanting faithfulness to God’s word with their own faithfulness and the one who needed loving mercy to express real love in her marriage.
Am I willing to listen when I am challenged over Issues I get upset about?
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Photo by Obie Fernandez on Unsplash