Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:1-3, 5-11 KJV)
When I read this I couldn't help but think about how the King of Kings stooped down for me too. He left all of Heaven to be born in a manger ...He took on the lowly estate of man, preaching and doing His Fathers will...then he stooped again, allowing himself to be nailed to a Cross where He wrote, not with his finger in the sand , but with his blood, on wooden beams of sacrifice, saying to my accuser, "It is finished...you have no power or claim... she is mine... covered under my blood" ...then He lifted himself up, not from the ground, but from the grave... conquering death and hell saying to me, " woman, where are those thine accusers? No man hath condemned thee... neither do I... go and sin no more"
Such love for me, I just don't understand. I don't deserve that gift. And as she walked away, I'm certain she felt that same feeling. That's why when the opportunity arose for her to stoop before Him...she did.
And behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:37-38 )
And she did it with her her whole heart...anointing His feet with not only her most expensive treasure but the most intimate part of herself...her tears!
Had she let herself remember only the stones that were ready to be thrown and not the hand of compassion that delivered her from those same stones of judgement, she would have never found the freedom that true deliverance brings...the freedom to be broken and poured out...the freedom to have tears fill her prayers with the sweet aroma of thankfulness...the freedom to worship Him...the freedom to forgive herself...the freedom to go and "sin no more" !
These passages of scripture have ministered to me more tonight than they ever have...the stones of remembrance don't have to be stumbling blocks. They can be "stooping" stones leading us toward a spirit filled life serving Christ on our knees!
