I read John 8:1-11 and God showed me something I hadn’t seen before.
Jesus was speaking at the temple and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery who, according to law at the time, should be stoned to death.
The Pharisees were testing Him to see if they could finally arrest him.
Jesus Knelt
He knelt to the ground and started writing in the dirt. Frustrated, they kept asking Him what He would do. He finally stood up and said “let he without sin cast the first stone” then knelt back down.
…hold on.
He knelt back down to look at the dirt.
When they were all gone and no one was left to condemn the woman, He stood up and sent her off, commanding her to sin no more.
After saying His piece, He knelt right back down to draw in the dirt.
Y’all.
He didn’t repeat Himself over and over. He didn’t assert dominance by standing and having a stare down. He didn’t argue.
He said it and knelt back down, not even focusing on them.
I almost didn’t even post this because of the revelation I had, but someone else needs to hear this, too.
I’ve always been someone that prides themselves on not backing down. I’ve always enjoyed watching people get what’s coming to them. I love seeing the look on people’s face when they have to accept that they’re wrong. I’m petty as heck and I used to say that proudly.
But Jesus didn’t. Of anyone in the WHOLE DANG WORLD He had the most right to stare them right in the eyes and dare them to say He’s wrong.
But He didn’t.
His simple act of saying what needed to be said and dropping back down to the dirt made it clear enough that He meant what He said. There was no other discussion. It was final. It was done.
But He also didn’t look up, watching them walk away, pleased that He called them out.
He didn’t take pleasure in being right. He didn’t need the validation of seeing them walking away. He knew the truth, spoke the truth, then let them process it on their own.
I wonder what their lives were like after that moment. How could you live life the same after hearing something so direct? I wonder how they treated their families, their friends, their coworkers.
I’ve been Wrong
But it also makes me see in my life where even when I’ve been right, I was wrong.
God doesn’t expect me to be perfect, but He does expect me to notice where I’ve been wrong. There’s a lot of the world I don’t understand and don’t pretend to.
But when time comes for me to be petty, to watch someone get what’s coming to them, I will ask myself if that’s what I would want. For someone to enjoy my pain and frustration.
It makes things worse
I’ve experienced that before and it makes everything so much worse. I don’t want to experience that myself so why should I do the same thing to others?
God lovingly called me out and sharing this publicly is allllllllll His doing, not mine😅
If you needed this, too, you’re not alone. God loves you. He’s working miracles in us💙
If you’re tired of being petty and ready to grow up in your faith, come sit with us.
I host a live Bible study every Saturday where we dig into Scripture, talk about real heart issues, and grow together in grace and truth.
Click here to join us no perfection required. Just a willing heart.
