The One Who Stands with Us

There is a great story in the Bible that I want to focus on for today’s thought.  Picture this scene.

Christ has arrived early to the Temple to teach a class.  A crowd of eager listeners gather and so the class begins.  Sooner than soon there is a disruption right in the middle of his lesson. 

A group of religious types –teachers and church leaders, burst in on the meeting dragging a woman into the middle of His lesson.  She is barely covered, more by using her hands in strategic places than by any snatches of cloth that is available to her, for she has been snatched straight from the bedchamber in her near naked state and is being forced to stand before the Christ.

The disruptive clan leader speaks.  “Teacher, we caught this woman in the middle of committing an adulterous act.  She was in bed with the man, and we dragged her here so you could see for yourself.  The Law of Moses clearly says to stone her.  What do you say?”

And here is what happened next.  He bent down.  He bent down and began writing on the floor. 

They were being ignored.  They said it louder.  “Teacher, what do you say?  The law says this.  What about your opinion?

They were setting a trap, you see.

He wrote a bit more, and then He stood up.  Christ stood up.  He looked at the woman.  She was trembling.  Her hair was a mess, shame was written all across her face, and she hung her head.  She expected the worst pronouncement of all from this man.

And Christ spoke.  He didn’t speak to her.  He spoke to the crowd.  His words echoed off the stone walls, and reverberated around the chapel chamber.

“Those without any sin my certainly cast the first stones.”

And then he bent down and wrote in the dirt.  He wrote more.

If you listen closely, you’ll hear a few well-placed thuds as the stones are falling to the ground, and you’ll hear some of them rolling around as they bounce off the hard ground. 

When He looked up, the woman still stood before Him.  She was still attempting to cover her body, and she still hung her head in shame and guilt. 

He asked her:  “Where are your accusers?  Is there no one now accusing you?

She looked around.  Shock and awe must have been in her expression, for she alone was standing in front of the man, the Christ.

She spoke in a faltering voice.  “They … they must have left.  No one is here accusing me any longer.”

And He spoke the words.  “Neither do I condemn you.  Go and sin no more.”

What a great story.  And it is not a parable – a make-believe illustration but a real life experience.

Christ stood with her when the accusers came to destroy her. 

And still today we experience the same.  Christ is on our side.  He offers redemption and restoration when others issue proclamations and decrees of condemnation.  When others judge our motives, our past and our weaknesses, Christ stands with us.

Max Lucado puts it this way.  “(Christ) is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.”  (Romans 8:34)

When the accusations fly, his grace flows.  And it flows all the way down to where you and I stand, and covers our sins and missteps. 

He is our defense attorney.  He pleads our case for us. 

Are you placing your trust in this Christ?

He is THE one who stands with us when the stones fly, the words accuse and the court of public opinion turns south on us.

He is our ally.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time