The Story of My Life: Compassion and Forgiveness: The Story of the Adulterous Woman

The Story of My Life 2

Compassion and Forgiveness: The Story of the Adulterous Woman

by Jeremy Sanchez

written by Hannah Repotente

Have you ever done something you wished never happened? Something so embarrassing or just utterly wrong that once it's all over, you just want to melt right on the spot?

Undeniably, all of us have.

No one is exempted from feeling regret. Our own imperfections as humans make it impossible to always be right, leading to our mistakes which we ultimately want to take back. When these happen, we usually think “Why in the world did I do that?” or “If I can only turn back time...” It’s so shameful to screw up and fail that we wind up thinking that our existence means nothing anymore.

In the Bible, Jesus encountered a woman who did something she regrets. Let’s look at the story of the adulterous woman and see Christ’s grace and compassion to us sinners"

“Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning He was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and He sat down and taught them. As He was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.”

John 8:1-3

Merriam-Webster defined adultery as a “Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband.” Some synonyms include affair, cheating, two-timing but in the context of marriage. In the present, we view adultery as a minor issue to be addressed. We even use it as a subject of entertainment (let's not forget the Legal Wife, The Other Woman and Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real). But in the ancient times, adultery was viewed as a very serious sin that is punishable by death.

“If a man is discovered committing adultery, both he and the woman must die…”

Deuteronomy 22:22a

The Pharisees set this encounter to try to find something they can use against Jesus when He speaks. It is stated in the Law of Moses that they must stone an adulterous woman.

“They kept demanding an answer, so He stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then He stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.”

John 8: 7-9

Jesus is without sin, yet He did not throw the stone nor showed any signs of condemnation toward the woman. Despite the heavy weight of her sin, He did not show hostility to her but was calm and peaceful, as if He has no anger upon her.

“Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

John 8:10-11

Jesus knows how much guilt the woman suffered, and He knows how much she wants to repent from it. What He’s telling her is “I know you made a mistake, and you admit it, now, get up, and do your best not to repeat it again.” He forgave her because He saw how much she regrets her actions.

That is also what He wants to say to us.

“You did something wrong? Failed to do what is just? Admit it to me and I am willing to forgive you. I will help you live your life the right way, just confess and repent. You will surely receive my peace and guidance.”

No matter how many times you’ve fallen, God will never run out of love for you. He doesn’t want us to dwell in our failings; He wants us to confess it to Him and He will help you get back up and guide you on the right track, to continue running the race with Him by your side. You are forgiven because of His grace – something we do not deserve.

GOD’S GRACE IS BIGGER THAN YOUR SIN

“…But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.”

Romans 5:20

If you think your sins are too big to be given pardon, think again. There is NOTHING that God cannot forgive. If you feel that God cannot forgive you, it is clearly stated in the Bible that He CAN and is WILLING to set you free from your pain. Don’t let your dark past haunt you! Let Jesus steer the wheel in your life.

DON’T LET YOUR PAST DICTATE HOW YOU LIVE BUT JESUS LOVE AND GRACE TOWARDS YOU

Jesus knows EVERYTHING you've gone through, and He knows how deep your past is, but that doesn’t nullify your assurance of forgiveness. You might have done stupid stuff before but that doesn't mean you can stand up once again.

Repenting doesn’t mean being perfect, but turning away from sin and following Christ in your life. Jesus knows we will still fail because we are imperfect, but He still wants to forgive us and bring us back up. That’s how much He loves us. Therefore, we must always keep Jesus in our hearts and minds and continue running the race set out for us.

“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”

Hebrews 12:1b;c

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith...”

Hebrews 12:2a

Focus your eyes on God’s love, grace, and holiness, not on your past mistakes. Let it go and let God work in your life!

If Jesus, One without sin, forgave unworthy people like us, then we should extend His compassion and grace to other people too.

“You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”

Luke 6:36

We have a tendency to judge people so easily without seeing the WHOLE PICTURE of their lives. We should be compassionate and full of mercy to those who do us wrong just as Christ envelops us with grace. Do not condemn others as the Lord never condemns us. Even if they have done wrong against you, forgive and let it go. God will be the one to deliver justice.

“Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

Romans 12:20-21

It’s not easy to forgive people, but if Jesus forgave us sinners despite the fact that we will still keep failing, we should too. We should all extend love and compassion just as Christ did when He died on the Cross for us because…

GOD’S GRACE WILL MAKE YOU LOVE PEOPLE THE WAY JESUS LOVES US

Don’t let your past weigh you down. Confess and surrender it to God and He will direct your paths. His grace is sufficient and His love never ends. Never give up because God will never give up on you!