What a beautiful Savior we have. God the Father didn’t send Jesus to appease His wrath and sentence us to death. Instead, Jesus came to save us: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (Jn 3:17). Jesus holds the power of divine judgment (Jn 5:22-24). Dying for our sins to save us took more love and power than merely condemning us, writing us off in our sin. The power of Jesus’s mercy threatened the Pharisees’ own power over the people, so they constantly tried to bring charges against Jesus so they could be rid of Him. Jesus clearly demonstrated the power of mercy when he saved the woman caught in adultery.
The woman is subject to judgment. However, judgment can come in the form of condemnation or acquittal, and Jesus has the power to free her from her sins. Because He is the Son of God, He has been given the authority to judge, and His justice is only outdone by His mercy. “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (Jas 2:13).
“Who will condemn? It is Christ who died, rather was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.”
Romans 8:34
Consider Jesus’s direction to the Pharisees: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn 8:7). Because He was the only one present who was sinless, He Himself was the only one who could rightfully throw the first stone. Instead of condemning her to death, He saved her. He freed her from her sins and purified her. The death penalty no longer applied. She had been forgiven. He told her, “Go, and from now on do not sin any more” (Jn 8:11). Notice that He didn’t let her go back to her old ways, tacitly condoning her sin. No, in His powerful mercy He pointed her in a new direction. He gave her the gift of a new, sinless life.
Thank you, Jesus, for saving us when we deserve to be condemned. Help us to accept and trust in the power of Your Divine Mercy.
Readings for the 5th Sunday of Lent
ISAIAH 43: 16-21
PSALM 126: 1-6
PHILIPPIANS 3: 8-14
JOHN 8: 1-11