Have you ever witnessed or been party to a mob justice? I have witnessed one and it is not a pretty sight. It is like the very core of what is evil within us comes to the surface and we perform acts of violence that are unthinkable in ordinary life situations.
Suddenly we become the judge jury and executioner all in one. The sad thing is that at times the victim is an innocent passer by, a case of mistaken identity. The reality of the matter is that you have people within the crowd who may have done worse but its only that they have not been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
John 8:3-11 (New International Version)
3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
One of the things I find amazing in this story is that the woman was found in the very act of committing adultery yet there is no man in the picture. Where is the man? Probably he was among the crowds that were crying out for this woman’s blood.
Yes she was guilty as charged and so was every other individual in that crowd apart from one. The only person without sin who had the authority to condemn her said neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.
Don’t we all do the same thing in the house of God today? When someone falls from grace, we are so quick to point fingers and sometimes we even cry out for their blood. “Banish them from the house of God” we shout! But the reality is that we who are in the crowd have issues that we are not brave enough to face and admit. Crying out for another’s blood makes us feel more righteous and justified just like the Pharisee praying and saying God I thank you that I am not like this tax collector.
When do you need to be shown love and acceptance the most? Is it when you have been good or when you have made a mistake?
Romans 5:8
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
While we were still in sin God showed us the greatest act of kindness.
What is it that you have done that has brought so much condemnation? Maybe you look back at the year and all you see is one mistake after another and you wonder, can God ever give me another chance? Yes He can and He has! What do you think Jesus will tell you this morning?
Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more!
God is a God of second chances. He still believes ion you and you can still make it. Your best days are still ahead of you, go and sin no more. People will accuse you and cry out for your blood but the one who is sinless with the authority to condemn you says neither do I condemn you go and sin no more. God is a God of second chances so use you second chance wisely and don’t abuse His kindness
Word of the Day: God of Second Chances.
