“When Jesus stood up, he said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’”
John 8:10
Whose Word is Final?
Who has the final word in a situation? In a court case, the judge makes the final decision. At work, your supervisor may give final approval on a project. In most cases, we have the final word when it comes to daily life—what to wear or eat, how to behave, or when to leave for work in the mornings.
But who has the final word in our spiritual lives? Many of us may answer with “Jesus.” But do we act as if this were true?
Judgment Meets Grace
In this story, the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery to Jesus to see how He will judge her. The accusers were ready with stones in hand as they thought they had the final word. However, Jesus asks for only those without sin to cast the first stone. One by one, they all walk away.
Jesus could have responded to the woman in statements, yet He asks her these two questions instead: “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” Why does He ask? Maybe He wanted the woman to acknowledge that accusers have no power when Jesus is around.
The Power of The Cross
How would you respond to Jesus’ questions if you were the woman? The weight of what you have done feels so heavy, and you know that you deserve punishment. However, this story shows us how the world’s focus is condemnation, while Jesus’ focus is always salvation. Now who has something left to say?
Satan can often make us feel as though he as the final word in our lives. But if we believe that the power of the cross holds the final word, our accusers are left with nothing else to say.
Now What?
In what areas of your life do you need to let the cross have the final word? What accusers in your life need to be identified and silenced? What stones are you holding onto to for someone else that you need to drop?
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