Scripture Reading: John 8:2-12
“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.’”—John 8:10-11
When the woman was caught in adultery—interestingly, the man with her was not exposed—the scribes and Pharisees brought her to Jesus to test Him. Would He obey the Law and sanction her stoning, or disobey the Law by sparing her? Jesus’ response, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” His words transformed the situation from an opportunity to cast judgment, to a moment of self-reflection. Jesus forced each person to look past the woman’s sin to look in the mirror and see themselves and their own sin.
One of the refreshing wonders of Jesus’ ministry was His ability to transform situations from a legalistic and academic matter, to the true human and personal condition. No matter how forgotten, forsaken or marginalized the person felt, Jesus was a reflection of God’s love, grace and hope to those in desperate need of healing: The ostracized tax collector, the infirmed waiting to be made whole, the defenseless widow burying her son, the demon possessed in need of deliverance, the person caught in adultery.
Jesus had a marvelous way of assuring each person that God loved them, while never judging their condition nor condoning their sin. He reached people where they were, and refused to leave them in the condition in which they were found. Jesus didn’t condemn people for their sin, He loved them. He told them they mattered. He told them they could do better. Even more, he modeled that before them. Then and even today, Jesus is the image of what we should reflect before the world.
Each day, we encounter people just like us, humans who fail and fall short. Each day, we make a choice to see others as that failure, or to see them as Jesus sees them, created in the image of God. Each day, we chose to be scribes and Pharisees who throw stones, or true disciples of Jesus who shower others with love and compassion. Each day, others will do the same with us. They will reflect what they see in us.
Question to Ponder: How would the world look if everyone reflected what they see in me?
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”—Matthew 7:12
