FAITH CAPSULE: God continues to be merciful while man often rushes to judge others.  

John 8:1-12

It is written, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) Since the time of Genesis wickedness reigns on earth while evil prevails in the heart of man. Despite the world of wickedness, God continues to be merciful while man often rushes to judge others. Thank God that God alone is God otherwise, the whole world be gone by now as a result of judgment.
The story of an adulteress woman in the book of John 8:1-12 depicts the world rushing into passing judgment instead of the world being rushed into facing judgment.
The scribes and Pharisees attempted to disrupt Jesus’ teaching in the temple when an adulteress woman was brought to Him. “…And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caughtin adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him…” (John 8:3-6) In the case of adulteress woman, the world wanted to rush into judgment. As it has often been, the world which should be judge for sin and sinning turned out took the position of a judge attempting to pass judgment.
Jesus responded to the world (the scribes and Pharisees) when He, “…stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’” (John 8:6-7) Jesus drew a line in the sand to identify those who had never been a sinner and those who were sinners. Among the world, none could cross the line of “never had been a sinner”. No man has been assigned to be a judge and Jesus spoke specifically to this when He stated in Mathew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”” Evidently, since no one could cross the line that was drawn by Jesus, no one was qualified to cast a stone of condemnation on the adulteress woman. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, declared to the woman, “…neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”(John 8:11) Jesus the only righteous judge commanded the adulteress woman to go and sin no more. Are you a speck vigilante? Jesus admonished, “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)

Prayer for today: Pray not to take any position outside of the Lords calling upon your life.