Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Caught in the Act"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer


Lenten Devotion

"... 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of
adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone
such women. So what do You say?'" (John 8:4b-5)

Read John 8:1-11.

Unable to arrest Jesus in front of the crowds, His enemies
look for a chance to turn those crowds against Him. They
bring a woman caught in adultery and set their trap,
"Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what
do You say?" Certainly the crowd is ready for a stoning.
Jesus will lose popularity if He stands in the way.

Jesus answers them. "Let him who is without sin among
you be the first to throw a stone at her." He was the only
one qualified to be her Judge, the only one who has the
right to throw that first stone. One by one they drop their
stones and walk away.

Jesus tells her, "Go and from now on sin no more." She
can walk away unpunished because He has taken her
guilt and sin upon Himself, along with the punishment she
 deserves from God for that sin. She goes away free while
He prepares to suffer in her place on the cross.

We don't like to admit it, but each of us is a sinner like
that woman. God catches us in every single one of our
sins, and we deserve something far worse than being
stoned to death. We deserve the fires of hell under the
wrath of God.

But Jesus Christ steps forward to take our condemnation
on Himself and pay the full price for our sins as He suffers
and dies on the cross. On Judgment Day we will walk away
free. He will not condemn us either.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You set me free by being condemned in my
place. Help me show true gratitude by forgiving others and
sharing Your salvation with them. Amen.