Monday, June 21, 2010

love

So the message this past Wednesday night was so moving to me. I get emotional whenever I talk about it, so I figured its something that holds enough significance for me to retell it.

Based on John 8 3-11.
This adulteress woman was brought before Jesus after being caught in the act of adultery, and the town and the people want to stone her, and they start listing her sins aloud. Jesus stoops down and starts writing in the dirt--not even paying attention to what was being said about the woman. And then he stands up and says "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." and everyone leaves--knowing they all had sin in their life. Jesus goes to the woman and ask where her accusers are, and she tells him they had all gone. And he finishes with "Then neither do I condemn you, Go now and leave your life of sin."

I've always heard the story taught from the perspective of the town. Kind of a "don't judge lest you be judged" type thing. But this time I was placed the position of the woman. All of her sin and all of her past being thrown out into the open. Everyone seeing all of her shame. All her friends and family. No one would look at her the same after this..and she was about to die. But Jesus doesn't even pay attention to the sins thrown around her because he had already forgiven her. He had already paid the price. He knew he would die on the cross for her shame--but he still loved her. Nothing that could have been said changed that love for her.

I get so overwhelmed thinking about that. That Jesus so specifically loved her--that he loves ME the same way. He loves the dirtiest, most raw and unkept and shielded place of who you are. He doesn't just look at the good in you and love the positive things you do. He loves you wholly and truly even through the disgusting sin we find ourselves in.

I don't think i've ever had such a strong emotional reaction to the love of Jesus before. I don't find myself guilt ridden and broken anymore, but I know that I have some things in my past that I have to own up to. People I see, people that know about my sin--places and circumstances all remind me of what I have been in the past--but I know that God saw fit to bring me out of my darkness into his light. Into a lasting and eternal purpose I cannot even fathom.

That blows my mind.
God is so good.

-Rachel