“Just love them anyway. I’ll sort ’em out later. God.”
When I read stories in the Bible, I find myself completely immersed, soaking in the atmosphere and experiencing the emotions. We all want to believe that somehow, we would have reacted with grace or better judgement, but really, how well would we have been able to control our own human response? Would we stand out or fall in line with the crowd?
“Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.”
I imagine the damp morning air as the woman was standing there in utter despair, gasping for breath as fear grips her chest and she gazes at her accusers, legs feeling weak. I imagined the loneliness and betrayal she must have experienced as she stood alone.
“In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.”
I can sense the dead silence in the heavy air as everyone around Him waits in anticipation. Actually, these men were not even interested in what happened to the woman. I can hear her heart pounding as she looks at Jesus in desperation, eyes crying out for mercy.
“When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.”
I imagine the look of bewilderment on her face as the woman realized the gift of mercy that had been granted to her. Still frozen in terror, she was perhaps unsure how to process what was happening. I have witnessed this response in people. It is almost disbelief. Could this be real? The world does not love this way. I imagine the stunned faces of the men, who even then did not understand love, but were more concerned about self-preservation.
“When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.”
Have you ever experienced a moment like this when in an instant, every muscle in your body relaxes, you exhale, and you realize it’s over; it is going to be OK? Can you see her face – the tears flowing – as she gazes upon Jesus with relief, awe, amazement?
“Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?”“No one, Lord,” she answered.“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”
And there it is. LOVE. Self-less, beautiful, real. The woman, in her darkest moment, received the most perfect gift we can give. Pure, merciful love. I can only imagine the shock mixed with joy as the woman looked into the eyes of Love Himself. Incredible.
We are surrounded today by people similar to the individuals in this story. There are some who are puffed up with entitlement, self-righteousness, and apathy. Some are plagued with complacency. It is difficult to discern true love or what it even means when Jesus says we are to love one another. The word love itself has become so distorted. And the act of love is treated as a commodity, withheld when someone does not agree with our agenda or we do not live up to their standards. We shut ourselves off from others out of entitlement, inconsiderate of the consequences.
But in this story, Jesus gives us a perfect example of what it means to love one another. I remember praying one day and asking God to give me the ability to see others the way He sees them. I wanted to look past their mistakes, their denomination, their political views or their family history. Regardless of what we see on the outside, regardless of what one will admit, we all need the same thing this woman needed. We need love and we need to be heard. We are created in His image. And He is love personified. And therefore, so are we.
Do everything in love. 1 Cor 16:14
It was as if the scales had fallen from my eyes. When I began to connect with people in a real way, I saw change. When I spoke to them because they mattered, I saw light in their eyes. Our world suffers from an epidemic of self. In this world of “me first” we have forgotten how to love one another, empathize with our fellow human, and forgive. In a dream one night, I clearly heard God say, “Love them anyway.” Love them despite it all. The moment was so intense I was changed. They need it. And when I began loving them anyway, I felt a shift in my own heart. Joy overcame despair. Peace overcame fear. Purpose overcame regret.
I know this is hard. After all, people have hurt us. I tell people, don’t do it for them, do it for YOU. And as you do it for you, and YOU get free, others will see the change in you. Your joy becomes contagious. And one by one, in our own little corner of the world, we can invite change for the better. Jesus did it. He still does it today. And so should we. ♥♥♥
Passages taken from John 8: 1-11
I AM. BELOVED 