In John 8 there is a wonderful story about Jesus being confronted by the authorities with a made-up scandal. He dispatched the assembly by revealing the personal sins of each politician: priests or politicians were one in the same. While reading the story I was struck with a modern equivalency of a hypothetical senate judiciary committee convened to destroy a career. The intended prey calmly and with precision looks at the chair and reveals the hypocritical truth about him. With precision he begins working his way around the circle unveiling each one’s deepest, darkest secret. The news networks would love it. What great theater! Jesus was a master and the people loved Him. Those stuffed shirts (robes) had been abusing the people long enough. Jesus was verity. Jesus was truth.
We all have secrets we want never to come to light. Paul said in Romans 3, “Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.…” Jesus knows all about us. Yet, He still loves us. What He wants to say to us is exactly what He said to the woman at the center of the story in John 8. “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” That’s the Gospel right there in a simple statement; repeal and replace.
We sometimes wonder how it was that the religious leadership pursued the crucifixion with such vigor. They had to. Jesus knew too much. But, oh, how His heart yearned for them. “Father,” He prayed, “forgive them.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on June 29, 2017
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