Forgiven
Romans 4:7 (KJV)
“…Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”
Romans 4:7 (KJV)
In John 8, we read a beautiful account of forgiveness. A woman was caught in the act of adultery and taken to Jesus. He was reminded of the Mosaic Law that she should be stoned. They sought His opinion, hoping He would say something contrary to the law or utter blasphemies. Without a word, He simply stooped down and used His finger to write something on the ground.
This gesture was very symbolic, and I believe that firstly, Jesus was reminding them (and us) that He knows that we are dust and prone to sin. The Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 103:13-14, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust” (KJV).
Jesus kept writing, and the self-righteous religious leaders kept pressing Him for an answer. He finally responded, telling them that the one among them who had no sin should be the first to stone her. Then He stooped down and wrote on the ground again. Some believe He was writing down the sins of all of those present. I don’t know what He wrote, but if He did, I like to imagine that He wrote the word ‘Forgiven’ repeatedly.
Whatever Jesus wrote was so powerful that the men all slinked off, one by one, until the woman was left standing where they had placed her, centre stage, ready to receive the bloodthirsty stones. Jesus stood up again, this time to ask the woman where her accusers were and if there was no one to condemn her. At her negative response, Jesus told the woman, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (Verse 11).
Jesus wasn’t pardoning the woman. He was merely showing her the mercy He offers — the mercy of our loving Father. He also shared that mercy with the men who had taken her there in the first place, showing them that He was the Light of the world.
Beloved twice, Jesus stooped to the ground, showing us His humility. Twice, He stood up, showing us that He will always stand on our behalf, ready to plead for or fight for our lives. Brothers and sisters, if you have ever tasted the sweetness of being forgiven, then you know that it was not given lightly. Jesus paid for our sins with His life’s blood. Let’s ensure that we value His sacrifice by walking in obedience.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in times like these, all we can do is bow before You, thanking You for Your goodness and mercy over our lives. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, we promise to do as Jesus directs, to go and sin no more. Help us also to be merciful to others as You are to us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Read: Romans 4:7-8; Hebrews 7:25
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 47; Luke 18:1-30; Deuteronomy 28:15-68
Amen