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Apr 10, 2024 06:00am

At His Feet

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Who’s been sick this season? Perhaps the better question would be, who hasn’t been sick?

Around our house, if one gets sick, we ask tons of questions. What symptoms do you have? On a scale of 1-10, how bad do you feel? Have you taken anything for your fever? And ultimately, it ends with me saying, “You need to go to the doctor.”

“I’ll be fine.”

That’s always the response. When in reality, they are not fine. They need help. I just can’t get them to see how bad off they are.

But then, the tables turn. I begin to have symptoms. They start questioning me, and what do I say?

“I’ll be fine.”

It’s easy for us to see when someone else needs help. We can point out their issues in a heartbeat. But, when it comes to seeing our own needs, issues, and sicknesses…

“Not me. I’ll be fine.”

But we are 100% not fine.

John 8:1-11
“Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him, and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

The scribes and Pharisees always seem to be in the middle of the scandal, don’t they?

Well, in this case, they thought they had it all figured out and knew a way they could trap Jesus and be done with Him once and for all.

These were supposed to be the religious leaders. The ones that everyone learned from. They were supposed to be the example for others to follow. Yet, here they are, breaking their own laws.

Who did they bring before Jesus? A woman caught in the act of adultery. But where was the man? The law stated that BOTH were to be brought forward to be stoned.

…

They wanted to make a spectacle of this woman and her sin. Yet, they couldn’t even see their own. They cast her at Jesus’ feet, hoping for harsh judgment and a chance to cast their stones.

But at His feet was where this woman found salvation.

“He that hath no sin cast the first stone.”

And they all, ALL, walked away, knowing their own guilt.

As they looked around, no one remained to accuse and condemn the woman. And Jesus’ response contains some of the most beautiful words spoken in Scripture.

“Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

It’s easy for us to see when others need help. We can see their sin so plainly. It would be righteous and just of us to point out their sin, calling all the attention to them, wouldn’t it?

But if someone did that to us…

Compassion, forgiveness, love, guidance, examples – let this be what our walk with Christ is like. If someone you love is in sin, guide them to the Word of God. Let the Holy Spirit speak to them and their sin. And as we take them by the hand, we walk with them, allowing the Lord to change us with His power.

If you feel the conviction of the Lord in your life about your sin, there is no place to find forgiveness except at His feet. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, not to condemn. Let us follow His example.