| SUNDAY SERIES: Gospel of John I have the privilege of teaching this past Sunday! We’re moving through the Gospel of John, and it has been a challenging, touching series so far. If you’d like to listen along, you can PODCAST the teachings. Below is just a snapshot of this past Sunday: |
| This past Sunday, we explored one of the most powerful encounters in Scripture—Jesus and the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). It’s a story of shame, conviction, and the radical grace of Jesus. Imagine this: A woman is caught in adultery, dragged into the temple courts, and thrown before Jesus. The religious leaders don’t care about her—they just want to trap Jesus. According to the law, she deserves death by stoning. But instead of engaging in their game, Jesus kneels down and writes in the dirt. When they press him, he finally speaks: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one, the accusers drop their stones and leave. Jesus turns to the woman and asks, “Where are they? Has no one condemned you?” When she says no, he replies, “Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”This story reveals the heart of Jesus: He doesn’t condemn us—he sets us free. 1.) Jesus Took Our Shame Every one of us has made mistakes. Shame tells us we’re unworthy, that we’ll never be good enough. But Romans 8:1 reminds us: There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus carried our shame to the cross so we wouldn’t have to. If you’re holding onto guilt from your past, it’s unnecessary weight. Jesus already paid for it—drop it and walk in freedom! 2) Shame ≠ Conviction We often confuse these two. Shame attacks our identity (I am bad), while conviction speaks to our actions (I’ve done something bad). It’s the difference between “God is so disappointed in me” and “God has better for me”. Shame pushes us away from God; conviction draws us closer. Proverbs 3:11-12 reminds us that God disciplines us because he loves us. His goal isn’t to make us feel worthless—it’s to transform us into who he created us to be. 3.) Jesus Cares Deeply About Transformation Jesus didn’t just forgive the woman; he called her to a new life.“Where are they? Has no one condemned you?” He wasn’t searching for an answer, he was getting HER to search for the answer. Think of ADam and Even hidden in shame in the Garden… “Where are you?” was a not a physical question, but an emotional one. Peter after his betrayal is eating breakfast with Jesus. Jesus asking Peter “Do you love me?” was a redemptive moment for Peter to reclaim His love for Jesus. To cover his shameful denials. God does not ask questions for information, but for our transformation. 4.) It’s Not Our Job to Judge Others We love the part where Jesus shows grace to the woman—but we often forget that we’re also in the shoes of the Pharisees sometimes. Have you ever held a stone in your hand? Maybe not literally, but in your heart? Maybe you’ve judged someone silently, looked down on someone struggling with sin, or thought at least I’m not as bad as them. Romans 2:1 warns us: You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! Yikes. Jesus reminds us that judgment isn’t our job. Our role is to bring people to Jesus for transformation, not condemnation. When we judge others harshly, it’s often because we haven’t fully received the grace of Jesus ourselves. If we’re still holding onto our own shame, we’re more likely to throw it at others. Do you bring people to Jesus to be stoned, or do you bring them to Jesus to be transformed?So here’s the challenge—are you carrying shame Jesus already took? And are you still holding a stone in your hand, ready to judge? Let’s drop both and walk in the freedom he’s given us. |
Missionary in Barcelona, Spain
Audrey Wells 