“Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
I will not forget your law”
Psalm 119:61 NIV

“At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.”
John 8:1-11 NIV

This text is italicized because it wasn’t included in the original manuscript in John. Also my Bible says that John 7:53- 8:11 is missing. This is really good example of how good people can be wicked people for others. In this narrative, the Pharisees are using this woman because of politics. They want to trap Jesus. The other thing that is missing, is if she was caught in the act of adultery, where is the man??

The story of how we treat others is the story of our relationship to self. The story of why we like good people, is they have traits that we think are good and are similar to our own. We admire people because they have traits we want and value. The story of why we dislike good people, is because they have traits and characteristics that we shame ourselves for having and/or we are not being brave with our lives. Rigid belief system, judging, and gossiping are mirrors for ourselves.

“But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman where are they? Has no one condemned you?’
‘No one, sir,’ she said.
‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.'”
John 8:6-11 NIV

I wonder what Jesus was writing, LOL! It will always be easy to judge someone’s sin that is public when ours is tucked away in the closet. We all need grace, mercy, and favor. We all need Jesus’ forgiveness. We should all be willing to extend grace, mercy, and favor to each other.

“Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?'”
Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinner to repentance.'”
Luke 5:29-31 NIV

Jesus came to heal and deliver. Our lives should be more like Jesus. So, that people meet the God of compassion, love, and empathy.

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;”
Luke 8:1-2 NIV

“You are my portion, Lord;
I have promised to obey your words.
I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
I have considered my ways
and have turned my steps to your statutes.
I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands.”
Psalm 119:57-60 NIV

 We are the face of Jesus; offering love, grace, and compassion to others. We give them to Jesus because he begins to write the vision for their lives in their heart. He mends and transforms from the inside-out and in a way that only He can. We see outside behavior but God is able to heal the reason why you’re making the choices you make. The moment Jesus healed Mary Magdalene, she was loyal and faithful to Him.

“The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”
Genesis 2:15 NIV

“The earth is filled with your love, Lord;
teach me your decrees.”
Psalm 119:64 NIV

The earth is ours to take care of and we should all be committed to seeing it reflect the love of God back to us.