I never played hockey, but I have sympathy for the goalies. One professional goalie put it this way: “How would you like it if every time you made a mistake, red lights started flashing over your head and fifteen thousand people started yelling at you?” It doesn’t sound fun. What is the worst thing you ever did? Now imagine if you were caught in the act at the very worst moment of your life. What would you do? What if God caught you and you were in the palm of his hand? What would God do?
The Gospel of John includes a story about a woman caught in the act of adultery. Where was the man? We don’t know but he was equally guilty. The Pharisees used this mistake as an opportunity to trap Jesus and accuse him. They knew the Mosaic law called for stoning the woman to death. What would Jesus say? Well, he didn’t say anything, but he started to write on the ground with his finger. Some believe Jesus was writing down the Ten Commandments. Finally, he spoke and said, “Let anyone who is without sin throw the first rock.” Then the Lord who had made people from the dust started writing on the ground again. Slowly, silently, the condemning crowd slipped away in the shadows.
Finally, Jesus turned to the accused and asked, “Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she answered. Jesus refused to condemn her to death that day. Instead, he told her to leave and to repent of her sin. To be clear, she was caught in the act and Jesus could have pronounced her death sentence, but instead, he forgave her and offered her a new life. She was not required to wear a scarlet letter for her mistake.
Someone must pay for sin. Not too long afterward, Jesus went willingly to the cross and bore the condemnation for her sin and all of ours as well. God has us in the palm of his hand. He can do anything he wants. Can we believe God chooses to forgive us and free us from our past failures? He never tells us that our sin is ok. But he takes it away. Since he has forgiven us, we may also forgive ourselves and others. Paul would later write to the Christians in Rome, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Christians may live forgiven today. Will we?
