Today's Scripture
in the boundaries: John 8:1-9
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE: John 7-8 (CEB)
3 They each went to their own homes, 8 1 And Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he returned to the temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The legal experts and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery. Placing her in the center of the group, 4 they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone women like this. What do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, because they wanted a reason to bring an accusation against him. Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger).
7 They continued to question him, so he stood up and replied, “Whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first stone.” 8 Bending down again, he wrote on the ground. 9 Those who heard him went away, one by one, beginning with the elders. Finally, only Jesus and the woman were left in the middle of the crowd.
10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Is there no one to condemn you?”
11 She said, “No one, sir.”
Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, don’t sin anymore.”
What does this passage mean to me/us
I always wonder what Jesus might have written on the ground.
Some say, Jesus wrote the law the accusers were reciting, while Some suggest Jesus wrote the sin of the people, who were accusing the women.
This story leads us to rethink about the law.
Law is a boundary of our society. It gives us certain standards to abide by for the wellbeing of the society.
However, Jesus shows us how we should live in harmony within the people of the society, rather than pushing them out of society.
Harmony requires a broader understanding and acceptance that might be broader than the law.
Instead of casting out stones, we are to open our arms.
Do I cast the stone of condemnation, before opening my arms to embrace?
Prayer
Lord, you accepted us as your own regardless of our sins. Can we imitate your love in this world? If so, help us. In Christ name, we pray, AMEN.
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