“One [can] live a strong and good life without using condemnation to punish and control others. . . . When we enter the life of friendship with the Jesus who is now at work in the universe we stand in a new reality where condemnation is simply irrelevant.”- Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives you life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”- Romans 8:1 (NIV)
John Ortberg continues Chapter 5 of Everybody’s Normal . . . as he ponders what Jesus wrote on the ground in response to the wannabe stone throwers. Unfortunately, in John’s gospel, John provides no answer. However, Pastor Ortberg notes, that hasn’t kept scholars from weighing in. Therefore, John offers a few thoughts:
- in Roman law it was the custom for a judge to first write the sentence and then read it. So, some scholars believe Jesus did this as a way to express His authority to judge.
- Jesus wrote down the sins of the leaders of the group. This intriguing idea dates back to the fifth century.
In addition, as Philip Yancey observes in The Jesus I Never Knew, Jesus’ audience divided people into two categories. Hence, they saw sinners (like the woman caught in adultery) and the righteous (like the men). Most significantly, though, Jesu replaced those groupings in one brilliant stroke. Instead, Jesus saw sinners who admit and sinners who deny.
Furthermore, John counsels, we find condemnation and judgment deeply rooted in the human spirit. As a result, many people can’t picture functioning without those sins of the spirit. Certainly, we feel richly rewarded by the sense of superiority such condemnation and judgment breeds in us.
In conclusion, John exhorts:
“So, do you have any stones you need to let go of? Maybe against your mother or father, or against an ex-spouse, or against a boss or coworker . . . ? You carried the stone for so long you don’t remember life without it. Put down the stone.”
Today’s question: How does Jesus make condemnation irrelevant to you? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Sloppy complacency – opposite”