Is That A Rock In Your Hand?

Can you imagine the feeling of being exposed. The feeling of having your deepest darkest sin, paraded before you and for the whole world to see. Can you imagine the public spectacle and the private shame, of your personal affairs, being exposed for the purpose of embarrassing you or humiliating you.

It is easy for us to find fault in others. Maybe one of the reasons is that while we are looking at their shortcomings and measuring their faults, it takes our minds off of our own problems and puts them on somebody else.

It does not matter if it happens next door, down the street, across town, or in another part of the country or the world. Inquiring minds want to know.

These proud, religious, boisterous leaders, brought this woman to Jesus. And they came with rocks, in their hands.

They said they had caught her in the very act of adultery. They caught her hanging out in the wrong place, at the wrong time, wrapped in the wrong arms, and on the other side of town. They caught her enjoying the pleasures of sin and they would not let her rest, she had gotten her just reward.

And now here they come bringing this woman to Jesus with malice in their hearts and judgment as their motive. And with punishment on their mind. They tried to use this incident to put distance between Moses and Jesus. They sought to use this incident as a weapon against Jesus. They came to Jesus saying "We caught her, now what are you going to do about it. We broke down the doors, and pulled back the covers and saw her for ourselves. Now what do You have to say about that! Moses said in the law, that we should stone her to death! So what are You gonna do."

There is no denying the charges! But where else can sinners turn! Where else can sinners go to! Where else can the weak, the wounded and sad of this world turn to, if they can’t turn to Jesus! Where else can liars go looking for truth! Where else can drunkards go to find new wine! Where else can those who are hurting turn to, if they can’t come to Jesus!

Scripture makes it plain that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Look in the mirror! Look at your own life! Look at your family! Your children! Look at your church! For all our righteousness is as filthy rags!

We did not all come here the same way. We did not all come here for the same thing! Some came for refuge! And some came for peace! Some came for joy! And some came to escape the wrath of an unfriendly world! Some came to get away from drugs! Some came to get away from addictions to sin! But we all came!

We came because there was some dirt in all of our lives, until Jesus washed us white as snow, we were all stained by sin, until Jesus picked us up out of the muck and miry clay! And this is no time to throw stones my brothers and sisters!

They kept complaining and Jesus kept on writing down there on the ground. I do not know what Jesus wrote. I do not know what Jesus said. Or if Jesus wrote about anybody at all!

They set her up! But they wanted Jesus to bring her down! They baited the trap and they wanted Jesus to spring it on her! But Jesus simply got up from where He was, and said unto them, "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her."

From the oldest to the youngest, they came ready to stone the woman. But they left with their rocks in their hands. They came to punish the woman, but they left with their rocks in their hands. Everyone of them had to walk away with their head hanging down, realizing they had their own problems and weaknesses. They had their own faults and failures.

And Jesus lifted Himself up, and He and the woman were left alone. Jesus said, "Woman, where are thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee." And she said, "No man Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee...Go and sin no more."

The love of God covers a multitude of sins. Now Jesus says to you, "Go and sin no more...get up from here...leave this place...walking in the newness of life."

Lay down the rock! Lay down the drugs! Lay down the crack! Lay down the alcohol! Lay down the adultery! Lay down the misery! Lay down the pain! Lay it down! And lay it down now!

Alas and did my Savior bleed, and did ny Sovereign die. Would He devote that sacred head, for such a worm as I...but drops of grief can n’er repay the debt of love I owe. Here Lord I give myself away tis all that I can do.

At the cross, at the cross! Where I first saw the light! And the burden of my heart rolled away! It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day!