John 8

Okay so I am feeling much better thanks to Tylenol cold! I am going to attempt to post everything tonight. I need to stop waiting so late to type everything up! I was listening to a song tonight by Francesca Banistelli called, "The Time in Between" and it is about how we always are so amazed by the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. She says Jesus was there for everything. He was there when God told him he had to leave and go spend 9 months in his mothers womb and 3 days in a borrowed tomb. Then she says she lifts empty hands for god to fill her up again but she falls to her knees and is thankful for Jesus who came only for her. She's thankful for the time between his birth and resurrection. Then she says there are so many ways his love has saved the day. she is thankful for them all but that she is really amazed by the time in between. The time in between two things. Those two things were his birth and resurrection. The time in between was his life and death. She mentions at the beginning that she can't believe he came for her and she is waiting daily for him to fill her up again. I couldn't help but to praise God while I was listening to that song. I was so excited to get to read my Bible tonight because I wanted to see what happened in the next chapter. That song really just showed me that I need to be extra thankful for what Jesus did for me.

The first verses of Chapter 8 are probably some of my favorites in the Bible. This is the story of the adulterous woman that the Pharisees brought before Jesus. The way that those men treated her makes me so mad and it is probably because I am a woman! But it doesn't mean they are innocent. Jesus saw through their facade and into their heart. He knew their hearts weren't right so what right did they have to bring this woman to him for judgment?! I got chills while reading this because I always think of the scene in The Passion of the Christ where Mary Magdalene (this isnt scripturally based. there is no scriptural evidence to support that Mary M. and this woman were the same person)reaches across the dirt to grab Jesus's foot. She was desperate for Jesus. He had saved her life and she knew who he was. How many times have we been totally desperate for Jesus? Have we ever? We don't need to wait until we are caught in a bad situation, like this woman was to cry out for Jesus. Cry out to him daily!

When Jesus told the people that whoever was without sin should cast the first stone, he made it clear that compassion and forgiveness far outweighed punishment in his book. He didnt ridicule or reprimand those that were being judgmental, he just highlighted the characteristics that they were missing. Now here is the catcher! Jesus didnt ignore her sin. He told her not to sin any longer. Many times Christians are made out to be judgmental just because they disagree with a lifestyle. That isn't true. If we follow Jesus's example here, then we can disagree in a loving and kind manner.

I know Jesus was the type of man here on earth that was unbeatable. I also know that he knew who he was and who his father was so he wouldn't waver when questioned, which is why his answer for the Pharisees in verses 14-20 is so awesome1 I love how he basically says my testimony is valid because of who I am. If you don't believe it the Messiah then that's on you. Not me. He was straight forward and to the point. He didnt best around the bush. He didnt preach "feel good" messages. He brought the truth and the truth only. We all need to follow by example.

Things get rough in verse 34. Jesus says that anyone who sins is a slave to sin! We are all slaves! Thankfully, we can ask for forgiveness. If we don't, then we will remain in bondage and that bondage will eventually drag us down instead of lifting us up. Satan uses the religious leaders' pride and arrogance to blind them from what Jesus was trying to show them. He asks them if his language wasn't clear to them. Of course he knew it wasn't. They were so blinded by their sin and hate that they couldn't see or think clearly.

I have been I'm the same position of the Pharisees before. I am very thankful to have the ability to read my bible. And to pray! Daily! So many don't even have that. You all have my continuous prayers. God bless!