ADULTERY! - (JOHN 8 VS. 1 TO 11)

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Jim & Phyllida Strickland at home

Hi all,

Adultery! It’s an interesting word which post- puberty men and women have had to learn to deal with to some extent. God has designed us such that we are attracted by each other in different ways. Let’s not go there. What we can say is that men are stimulated by what they see. Men love to watch strip shows. Ladies usually don’t. It’s difficult for any normal red-blooded man to look at a naked women without being physically stimulated.

Under the Old Covenant, the law stated ¹⁴ "You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14 TNIV By implication, you could “look” as much as you wanted. “Commit” was the operative word. As long as you didn’t “do it” there was no problem with God. Certainly that was the understanding of the men back then. A sign saying, “Please do not handle the merchandise” would have kept everyone, including God, happy!?!

Then Jesus arrived on the scene. His comments put a new “slant” on what comprised adultery. ²⁷ "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery. ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Mat 5:27-28 TNIV In other words, from the Christian standpoint, committing adultery was taken beyond the action phase to the looking phase.

Now let’s reason this through to establish what Jesus meant. It can’t possibly mean that a man should go everywhere with his eyes closed, in order not to be guilty of adultery. The operative words are “looking lustfully”. Thus men are allowed to appreciate the beauty of a woman. What is forbidden is to go beyond “looking” and to start “lusting” for her. Many counsellors deal with this by to telling the young men to look away. Appreciate the beauty of a woman by all means; but if there is any trace of “lust”, look elsewhere. One writer’s advice was to “bounce” your eyes.

The reason we have gone through this is to get a better understanding of what took place in John 8:1-12. Bear in mind Jesus was simultaneously, 100% man and 100% God. He knew that the woman they brought to Him was naked. He knew how easy it was to be tempted into sin. He also knew that for Him to start looking at a naked woman would be a significant temptation. So He protected Himself from temptation by determining not to look at her. He stooped down and began to write on the ground with His finger.

If you look carefully at the passage, he did not look at the woman till the teachers of the law and the Pharisees had departed the scene. By then someone, knowing of her extreme embarrassment, would have handed her something to cover her body. It therefore seems likely that Jesus was not tempted by a naked woman. Once again the Master had defeated the subtle tricks of Satan.

His action of averting His eyes is our example for us to keep away from falling into “looking to lust”. Thank You Lord for this magnificent example for us to follow!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 27 February 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes						©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	Adultery! - (John 8 vs. 1 to 11)
Yesterday’s meditation and Scriptures were all about Covenant. You may recall that it referred to the fact that it was usually only the woman who was stoned to death for adultery. The man got off “scot-free”. I suspect that if women were stronger than men, it would have been the other way round! Being stoned to death for committing adultery is the topic dealt with in John 8 – one of today’s Scriptures. This portion of Scripture is left out in some translations. Where it has been included, there is often a footnote, or marginal-note, stating that the passage is not in them. It’s been deliberately left out for a good reason. Many translators do not like to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God! So they remove any section of Scripture which makes reference to His Divinity. After all, only God can forgive sin! What is not mentioned is that if she was caught in the act of adultery and brought before Jesus, she was probably naked. Her deep humiliation and embarrassment would have touched Him deeply. To help her with this, Jesus didn’t look at her. Instead He wrote on the ground. It’s likely that someone threw her a covering of some sort during the time when the Pharisees left one by one. This would have quietened her trembling significantly. In other words, Jesus would not have been looking at a naked woman! I like this understanding, because of the deep care for women He displayed throughout His time in ministry. He would not have wanted to increase her embarrassment. What was He writing in the sand? We don’t know. Unfortunately the writing has been erased. One suggestion which is plausible, is that it was the sins of each leader of the group. When each of them read it, they had to get away. Caught “Red handed” is the comment. They had to leave! They thought they had “caught” Jesus out. The Mosaic Law was very clear. The penalty for adultery was stoning to death. If He had agreed, they would have stoned her to death there and then. If He didn’t He would have been siding with someone who had broken the law. His action was an act of God; repentance and forgiveness for an adulterer. No condemnation! “Go and sin no more”, was His injunction. Whether she did or did not we are not told. My guess is that her life was transformed by the incident. Jesus still does this today for sinners like you and me. Some of us have gone to Him more deeply entrenched in sin than this unfortunate woman. He forgave us and said, “Go and sin no more”! I’m so glad He did! This little poem was written in 1985. However, it is as just as relevant today as it was back then. Sorry about the small font size! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			5 If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn't find fault with them. 6 When you ask for something, don't have any doubts. A person who has doubts is like a wave that is blown by the wind and tossed by the sea. 7 James 1:5-6 GW 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" 11 "No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more." John 8:10-11 NLT 15 There is no comparison between God's gift and Adam's failure. If humanity died as the result of one person's failure, it is certainly true that God's kindness and the gift given through the kindness of one person, Jesus Christ, have been showered on humanity. 16 There is also no comparison between God's gift and the one who sinned. The verdict which followed one person's failure condemned everyone. But, even after many failures, the gift brought God's approval Rom. 5:15-16 GW 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph. 2:4-9 ESV 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Rom. 8:31-33 ESV	He'd been on the Mountain of Olives, As well as our Temple in town. We had heard Jesus speak All the previous week And at dawn, He came in and sat down. We all began gathering round Him; All eager, His voice, for to hear; Perhaps we would see Him miraculously Cause a wondrous sign to appear! Then, up walked a group of our leaders With a woman they thought He should see. They said, "It's a fact!" "She's been caught in the act Of committing adultery." They said that, according to Moses, She should now pay the ultimate price; And, if He agreed, They would like to proceed. But first, would He give His advice? Now, all of us knew that the question Was designed to put Him in a flap. They wanted to see What His answer would be. Perhaps, He'd be caught in their trap? The woman looked horribly frightened. She stood there just shaking with fear. She was weeping aloud In front of the crowd, Convinced that her death was now near. But we were all looking at Jesus And wondering what He would say. We could see He was faced With His utter distaste For this harsh and unloving display. We didn't know how He could answer, Or the principle He would propound. But, we knew what He meant When He silently bent And His finger did write on the ground. The Scribes and the Pharisees gloated, Insisting He make a reply. They thought He was beat Till He got to His feet And looked them all straight in the eye. With a voice of authoritive passion, He uttered these words from His heart: “The one without sin May her stoning begin." Then, His writing, once more, He did start!		The leaders all stared in amazement; Confused by the answer they'd heard. For, the words that He spoke Nearly caused them to choke! To them, He had sounded absurd. But slowly the truth of His answer Started settling into each mind. Like the light of the day Driving darkness away, Their reasons for stoning declined. Then, shamed by the wisdom of Jesus, The eldest departed the scene. How could he reply? He did not qualify! He knew what a sinner he'd been. And, right the way down to the youngest, They followed the eldest man's lead And left, one by one, Till each person had gone That accused her of doing the deed. The woman continued her weeping But, since only Jesus was near, Her trembling finished; Her wailing diminished And she was controlling her fear. Then, Jesus arose from His bending And glanced very quickly around. We could tell from His eyes He wasn't surprised Her inquisitors couldn't be found! "Woman, where are your accusers?" Jesus asked as the woman grew calm. "Where are the men Who seek to condemn? Is there no one that's seeking your harm?" By then, she was filled with amazement And relief that she couldn't disguise. "No one Sir!" she replied In a voice which implied That she didn't believe her own eyes. Then, Jesus looked full of compassion As He gazed at her straight in the eye; And His words set her free As He said tenderly, "If they haven't, neither do I!" Jesus knew that she'd truly repented Of what she'd been doing before; And so He did say That she could go away And added, "Don't sin anymore!"
				Jim Strickland  Written 1985

IN COVENANT

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 26 February 2013

Jim & Phyllida

Hi all,

Marriage is an extraordinary custom. We start with two completely unrelated people. They then go through an extraordinary ceremony, go on honeymoon and consummate the marriage. Suddenly the couple become one. So much so that he is her next of kin and vice versa. Yesterday he was Mr XXXX and she was Ms YYYY. Suddenly they are Mr & Mrs XXXX. Why? What has happened that makes this astonishing difference? It seems ridiculous. What has happened that has completely changed their status and their relationship? The answer is, they have entered into a covenant relationship.

So what, I hear people comment? It’s a covenant that makes this difference; a huge difference. Covenant is meant to be the closest relationship possible between two people. As a general rule in the First world, a covenant is “cut” between two people. Today we see it as between a man and a woman. But in Biblical times, it was often between two men, or two representatives between two groups of people.

A covenant is unbreakable. That is what was originally intended. Two individuals would swear, on pain of death, to honour the covenant. So much so, that if one party broke covenant, that person was fair game for being killed by members of his own family or the members of the other partner’s family. It was taken seriously and was not entered into casually or with an intention of “ducking out”. Hence divorce was impossible.  It was regarded as breaking the unbreakable. This accounts for why in the past divorce was unthinkable. In the language of my parents, “You have made your own bed. Now lie in it!” It couldn’t be done! The only way out of a covenant was by death!

Over the past fifty years, first world people in Protestant countries have changed. Marriage has been downgraded to be little more than a contract between two people. It used to be.

To a large extent, we Christians are significantly implicated. I understand that the divorce statistics in the Christian world is little different from the non-Christian world. Phyllida and I have both been through the pain of divorce albeit almost 32 years ago for myself and 36 years ago for Phyllida. Should we have “stuck it out to the bitter end?” Perhaps we should have done. Circumstances dictated otherwise. Fortunately for us, we saw divorce as a sin. We also realise that ween a man and a woman. Today, marriage is possible between two men or two women. In Biblical days a covenant was possible between two men. However, it was permanent and unbreakable. I cannot comment on whether this is what is meant today. I suspect that the downgrading of marriage between a man and a woman in the first world, suggests something less permanent. If couples can divorce so easily, no doubt two men or two women can do the same.Jesus forgives sin; even the sin of breaking covenant. Thank you Lord.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus –			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	In Covenant
How many times have you been taught about covenant from the pulpit? I’ve heard about the topic a few times. I’ve also taught about it on a number of occasions. Nevertheless, there isn’t nearly enough understanding of covenant in the Church today. The first time I heard anything about it was in 1982 when I was in a local Bible School. I was greatly encouraged and greatly shaken by what I learned. I distinctly remember being informed that there was no higher commitment we could make with each other and/or with God than a Covenant. I was told that our salvation came about as a result of a covenant Jesus Had made with His Father on our behalf. It was a covenant sealed in Jesus’ blood and could not be broken; certainly not in the context being expounded. It’s on this assumption many believe that no matter what we do after cutting this covenant with God, it has no significance in our relationship with God. The other aspect of covenant was its implications in marriage. We were taught, quite rightly, that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman. The only way out is death! Divorce is not an option. Adultery was punishable by death, because one of the parties had broken their covenant with their partner. Death by stoning would correct this breach of covenant. In the Old Testament, this took place. What bothered me was that it appears that only the woman who was stoned. It was originally intended as the penalty for both parties. But the man “got away with it”; presumably because he was male. (Male chauvinism?) Phyllida and I have had a real life experience with the Lord concerning divorce. Phyllida’s former husband walked out of the house and that was that. He was already living with his girlfriend so their covenant was already broken. She had no option but to go through the 1976 divorce procedure. Then for her, it was all over. My story was a little different. My former wife told me she had never loved. The first time was in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1971. We came to South Africa partly as a result of that. Over the next ten years she made the same comment on a number of occasions. In the end, she sued me for divorce. I didn’t leave the family home until the morning of the divorce Phyllida and I have now been in a marriage covenant together for over 31 years. We have a marriage that is wonderful godly marriage.. Our commitment to each other is based on our covenant with each other and with God. If it could last for another million years, that would be fine by us. Realistically speaking we know that each day takes us closer to the end of our lives here on this planet. Until that day arrives we have the Lord and each other. Hallelujah! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			3 The One sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones--like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow. 12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.   Rev 4:3 NLT Gen 9:12-16 ESV 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." Gen 9:11-16 ESV 1 Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: - 5 "For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? 2 Sam 23:1-2 & 5 ESV 18 God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. Heb. 6:18 MSG 32 "And we're here today bringing you good news: the Message that what God promised the fathers 33 has come true for the children--for us! He raised Jesus, exactly as described in the second Psalm: My Son! My very own Son! Today I celebrate you! Act 13:32-33 MSG 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Heb. 13:8 NIrV	When I was still in primary school, I joined a little gang. We didn’t seek to do a thing. We called ourselves “the Clan”. We had no plans for anything our gang would ever do. But somehow it appealed to us; and so our Clansmen grew, From four young boys to ten of us. That’s when we made a pact, That we would stick together and we would always act, In favour of each other. So we became a bunch, Of dedicated “Clangers”, till we went home for lunch. The next time that we met again, we thought we’d make a vow; To promise to be faithful, somewhere, some time, somehow. And so we took a little knife and each one cut his thumb. We mixed our blood in secret and vowed we’d be a chum, To all the other members. But it was getting dark; And we were all a bit afraid of night-time in the park. So all of us went home again; not sure what we would say, When we were asked by parents, what we had done that day? I really can’t remember. My thumb was kind of sore. But Dettol and Elastoplast, made it feel fine once more. We didn’t understand it, but back there in those days, We’d touched upon a custom that teaches Bible ways. The reference was to covenant and just what it implied. A life-long vow of faithfulness; until the day we died. But we were only children and didn’t really mean, To enter into covenant endorsed by the unseen. For God records each covenant and tells us never break, The vow we’ve made with others. We never should forsake A promise made in covenant. There is no higher oath, That anyone can ever make. It’s like pledging our troth, To be forever faithful, as husband and as wife. Regardless what may happen, the promise lasts for life. We have a life-long covenant, with Jesus Christ our King, I never want to break it. I gave Him everything. I made Him Lord and Master. His slave I chose to be. And in exchange He promised He would take good care of me. This covenant we made that day was forged upon His cross. He gave me all His righteousness and He took all my dross! So now He gives the orders. My part is to obey. But I am not complaining. I’m loving it this way! Jim Strickland – Written 26 February 2012