Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Not Guilty


“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.  They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone! Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.  Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?
 “No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.  John 8:4-11

This week, I served on a jury.  I had the unique perspective of being foreman for the group.  Thus, my job was to not only come up with a reasonable decision on my part but also help facilitate the others in the coming up with the verdict.  Thus, our job was to look at evidence, which in this case was almost entirely circumstantial, and decide guilt or innocence.  As I thought about the various testimonies brought into the discussion and angles of exhibits, it made me think of my life and all the wrongs I have done.  It was not that I was dwelling on them and carry them like luggage.  Instead, it was thinking where I would be if I hadn’t had Jesus Christ as an advocate for me.  Unlike in a jury case, there is only one prosecutor, judge, and jury in my life.  God knows all I have done, and has presented a flawless case where one can only find me guilty as charged.  I confessed to being guilty as charged.  However, we have Jesus Christ as our defendant, and through Him, I am somehow found blameless.  The crimes that I am guilty of are left without punishment as Jesus Himself paid the price for it.  I am grateful that I have been given another chance to prove myself worthy of His gift of grace even though I can in no way do enough to either repay or earn it.  What an incredibly humbling thought!

Jesus frees us from the burden of our past to allow us to see a future.  We all have had moments where we regretted an action or done things we were not proud of.  If you were once like me, you lingered with thoughts of your past transgressions never being free and feeling less worthy than others.  Some of you despite dedicating your life to Jesus may have that one incident or thought that continually hovers over your head.  Others have people much like followers of Christ who want to hang your sins over your head like a crown of thorns or like jurors who have made the decision of your guilt.  This is not the life God intended for you.  This is why the story of this woman put before Christ is so important.  The Pharisees, having already in their minds found the woman guilty, put her before Jesus to either justify their beliefs or discredit Jesus entirely.  Note there is not even a denial from the woman in the story.  Jesus’ answer has a two-fold purpose for us.  First, it is to remind us that all fall short of God’s glory, and we must not be judgmental of other sinners (i.e. like the Pharisees).  Second, it is to lift the burden of our past to allow for us a brighter future.  This is Jesus’ purpose in our lives.  We are given a new life, where we are to follow Him given a higher purpose to ‘sin no more.’

God’s gift of grace through Jesus Christ is one of the greatest blessings in our walk of faith.  We are no longer burden by the guilt and shame of our past and our given a new life.  While we as mature Christians should know this, we are always susceptible to falling into old habits and believing we are beyond redemption.  But even when we fail the Lord promises to be with us saying, “”But with everlasting love, I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.” (Isaiah 54:8b)  So whether it is past transgressions before accepting Christ or overwhelming guilt that has hindered you after, be joyful in knowing your debt is paid, and God wants for you an amazing relationship with Him on your journey to eternal life.  What burdens do you need to cast on God today?  How can you move beyond your past toward His future for your life?  My prayer is that we understand that while we are guilty of sin, we are given new life as Jesus Christ finds us ‘Not Guilty.’  Amen.

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