To be restored, not rejected, is the Lord’s desire for all of us, even in the midst of our worst failures in life. In John 8:4–9, the Jewish leadership dragged the woman caught in adultery into the public eye. They exposed her failure for all to see. The weight of shame, guilt, and condemnation surrounded …
When Jesus refused to condemn the woman caught in adultery, forgiveness releases the burden of sin. The Pharisees tested Jesus and suggested that she be stoned. John 8:7 They kept demanding an answer, so he (Jesus) stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”[1] All the …
The woman caught in adultery in John 8 experienced the shame of an outcast. Society refuses to accept an outcast and tosses them aside. Merriam-Webster defines shame as a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcomings, or impropriety.[1] Guilt results from knowing we have done something wrong, but shame tells us we are wrong. …
This week’s story is often titled “A Woman Caught in Adultery.” But it could have just as well been titled “Men Caught in Hypocrisy.” One cannot commit adultery alone; it takes two. John 7: 53 Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home. 8:1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next …
We have the promise of life instead of death through what Jesus has done for us. Sometimes, with all that is going on in the world, we don’t take time to thank the Lord for what He has done. Through His death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus conquered sin, death, and the devil. He …
A touch that brings wholeness and breaks barriers is part of Jesus’ story. Mark 5 41 Holding her hand, Jesus said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!”[1] The scene is powerful. Jairus’ daughter had died, and according to the customs and religious laws of the time, touching a dead body made a …
To get through the storms of life, we must have faith instead of fear. Jesus can get us through any storm. I remember being in a hospital chaplaincy training program when the person I was visiting was dying. His wife handed him a piece of paper with a Bible verse on it. He held on …
We often worry about what others will think of us. This may prevent us from putting our faith in action. In this week’s story, both Jairus and the woman with the bleeding issue had to take a risk to put their faith into action to become well and whole. Jairus was the leader of the …
Faith amid desperation is the story that unfolds in Mark 5:24-29. We encounter two powerful stories woven together—Jairus’ dying daughter and a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve long years. As Jesus walked through the crowd on His way to Jairus’ home, the suffering woman quietly approached Him from behind. She believed that …
Have you ever thought about how interruptions can be a blessing? In our world, we don’t often think of life’s interruptions as gifts, but they often are. Our prayers interrupt God. Yet He welcomes them like a mother responding to her infant. Often, God uses interruptions in our lives to bring wholeness to our lives …