Tuesday, March 16

Psalm 51:3-4, 7
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Once again, begin your time with God with a prayer of confession. In particular, seek forgiveness for times when you have been more interested in the sins of others – than your own sin.


Read the first part of the story again:
John 8:1-6
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where people gathered all around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

Can you identify at all with what this woman would have felt in this moment? The Pharisees were the most religious men of the community and Jesus was seen as a Rabbi. The temple courts were regarded as the holiest public place in Jerusalem. She is dragged before this group of men in this holy place (notice: “they made her stand before the group…”). Can you put herself in her place? Would you feel shame? Humiliation? Fear? Rage? All of the above?
She had to feel utterly exposed; and she had to fear that her life was over – both literally and figuratively. Surely, she had to be thinking, this Rabbi named Jesus would condemn her for her sin. Surely he would see her as all the others did – a woman unworthy of forgiveness and beyond the reach of the love of God.

Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever feared that if others knew your inner-most secrets and sins – they would reject you? Have you ever felt unworthy of God’s love?

While the woman in the story does not yet know it – she is closer to God at this point than she has ever been because her accusers have led her into the presence of Jesus.

So often we try to hide our sin from others and from God. When we do this we hide ourselves from God as well. This story teaches us that we do not have to fear Jesus. We can come before him – with everything we are and everything we’ve done – and he will receive us as his children.

Take a few moments and ask yourself if there is anything you are hiding from Jesus? Are you willing to stand before him with your sin exposed? Are you willing to trust his grace and forgiveness?

Thank him for loving you and accepting you even with your failures!

Brian Coffey