“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus…said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” …they went away, one by one…and Jesus was left alone with the woman…” John 8:3ff

“The first step toward love is a common sharing of a sense of mutual worth and value. This cannot be discovered in a vacuum or in a series of artificial or hypothetical relationships. It has to be in a real situation, natural, free.” (Howard Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited (p. 98). Beacon Press. Kindle Edition.)

We like to notice the sins of the other person – we do not like to see the sins that exist within ourselves. Our view is clearer and often much sharper when assessing the weaknesses, the failures, and the foibles of others. What I like about the story of the woman caught in adultery is the ability of Jesus to remind us that we all carry some secrets or hidden sins that none of us would care to have aired in public.

Thurman writes: “To them the woman was not a woman, or even a person, but an adulteress, stripped of her essential dignity and worth. Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.” After that, he implied, any person may throw. The quiet words exploded the situation, and in the piercing glare each man saw himself…In that moment each was not a judge of another’s deeds, but of his own.” Jesus met the woman where she was, saw her as the person she hoped she might be – and gave her value.

Jesus’ refusal to condemn the woman, well, that is what gives us all hope. Jesus says in John 3:17 “The Son did not come into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world should be saved through him.”

Why do we spend so much time condemning and judging others? It is because we all have insecurities — and so one of the ways we try to feel better about ourselves is to put others down.

Jesus is the one to give us all value – for he sees us as children of the Heavenly Father — and as beloved children, loved because G-d created us. To live as if G-d is always judging us then we live life in fear — critical of all we encounter. But, if we live in faith, a gift to us through the Holy Spirit, then we can live into Christ’s love for us, dropping the need to judge others, and living into the crown Christ has set above each one of us.

Pastor Dave

“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:9

“In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ ³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:30-37

“The religion of Jesus makes the love-ethic central. This is no ordinary achievement. It seems clear that Jesus started out with the simple teaching concerning love embodied in the timeless words of Israel: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might,” and “thy neighbour as thyself.” Once the neighbor is defined, then one’s moral obligation is clear. In a memorable story Jesus defined the neighbor by telling of the Good Samaritan. With sure artistry and great power he depicted what happens when a man responds directly to human need across the barriers of class, race, and condition. Every man is potentially every other man’s neighbor. Neighborliness is nonspatial; it is qualitative. A man must love his neighbor directly, clearly, permitting no barriers between.” (Howard Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited (p. 89). Beacon Press. Kindle Edition.)

If our love is genuine, then we love all people, not just the ones who love us back. Hopefully someone in your life has told you at some point that it is far better to “Kill someone with kindness” then to seek vengeance. It is amazing how kindness gives your enemy nothing to hang their anger on – while venom toward your enemy just empowers them to hate even more. “Let love be genuine…” Paul says. So what is genuine Love? Genuine love is a love one lives out, demonstrates on all people, shares with everyone they meet – not just with those who love them back. The love the Good Samaritan shows the man who was left for dead is genuine love. Paul will go on to write, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor…” And the Prophet Muhammad said “Anyone who believes in God…should entertain his guest generously” – or like the Good Samaritan, show extravagant hospitality. Yes, it isn’t easy, but where does Jesus ever say that they way of the cross would be easy?

Pastor Dave