One Finger and One Sentence

Posted by Shelly Rice on

There is a scene in one of the movies called "The Jesus Series" that is based on John 8. When I saw it, it changed my life. In this scene, the people who hate Jesus bring a woman whom they have caught breaking the law of Moses(a sinner) to him in order that He would issue judgement on her. Her judgement was to be based on the laws handed down to Moses, from God. The haters of Jesus motives were not to issue justice to the woman, but to test Jesus, so that they might issue judgement and justice on Him. They cared nothing at all for the woman, or the law for that matter. Their motive was to accuse Him. However, Jesus, being the very nature of God Himself, cleared her accusers away with one finger and one sentence. With one finger and one sentence, He saved her life. 

 

"They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.  But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'  Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court." (John 8:6-9)


Picture it, alone, and unhindered by anything, with Jesus, God made real, in the center of the court. The court, the place where men go today to be accused, judged, penalized, and sentenced. For her crime, under the Law of Moses, she would have been stoned to death. Instead....

"Straightening up, Jesus said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?'  She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.'" (John 8:10-11)

Once again, with one finger and one sentence, He did an amazing thing, He granted her grace and mercy, because He wanted to. She made no statement of faith, offered no confession of sin, made no plea for forgiveness. She didn't do anythingHE did everything, because HE knew her.  He knew her heart.    And He knows everyone's heart. 

 

It is the same grace and mercy that He extends to us, that has enabled me to forgive others past transgressions against me, and allowed me to release them to His care. 

 

-Shelly Rice

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