Being Loved To Death?
This chapter opens with a question: "Does Religion Kill?"
Unfortunately -- most tragically -- it does. McManus brings up the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery that was brought before Jesus. Much has been said about this Gospel story. Many have brought up the question: "Where was her adultery partner?" If she was caught in the act (which is weird), why wasn't he dragged before the Lord, too? If this couple were not only accused by evidence or circumstantial "proof," but by being "busted" during the act of sex, there was no doubt lots of shame in the air. She was probably wrapped up in a robe or blanket nearby and probably endured being scorned, sneered at, and maybe even spit upon. By the time she was brought before Jesus, she was probably expecting the worst -- death by stoning. The Gospel story tells us that she was brought to Him by the religious leaders (pharisees) in order to "trap" Jesus. Those Pharisees must've really had it in for this woman or particularly hated her, because (as one Bible scholar points out) they could have kept her in private custody why they questioned Jesus about her.
People have often wondered what Jesus wrote on the ground, seeing as how he basically didn't even answer the Pharisees when they questioned Him about this. He bent over and wrote in the sand with His finger. They persisted in asking Him to comment, so He finally stood up and said, "He who is without sin cast the first stone." Then He bent down and started writing on the ground again. One by one, from the oldest to the youngest, they left. Some say that Jesus was writing the names of sins these Pharisees were guilty of committing. Some have guessed that He was writing down the names of the girls/mistresses that they had individually slept with in secretly committing the same sin. Some have guessed that He was just doodling, emphasizing the point that He could care less about their little trap. Maybe He wrote a statement, like: "Bring me the guilty man who was committing adultery with her, and then we'll stone them both." Perhaps the fellow was a bigshot or fellow Pharisee. Whatever the reason, he seemed to get off scott-free in this scenerio.
I wonder if Jesus thought at all about the bloodshed that was imminent. I wonder if He'd witnessed public executions by this point in His life. If He had, did He turn away? Did He cry? Perhaps He'd never been a part of such a stoning or seen a crucifixion. I imagine the potential for brutal bloodshed gave reason to stress a little bit. We see not indication of Him stressing out, though -- except in the garden when He faced His own death. He told His best friends, "I am overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" and He sweat drops of blood from His forehead. That was ultimate stress.
It's interesting that Jesus did not get political. He taught very many moral lessons that can certainly guide a responsible and intelligent group of people (to use His principles in governing people), but He never once fulfilled the suspicions of many of His day and hinted at the overthrow of the corrupt Roman government. Maybe He kept the "main thing the main thing" or maybe He knew that His very own followers wouldn't have the time or moral fortitude to rule over the world. He certainly placed "religion" over politics.
McManus finishes chapter 13 with a story about a girl named Nichole that was raised by teenage drug-using parents, enduring a life of abuse that only later saw the light of redemption through a Christian family in high school that showed her a good example of a healthy family ... and then the love of a caring friend after high school. It's so special that a friend can show someone love. The response, I think, shows us an example of what I think is one of the highest orders of the use of our shoulders on this planet: receiving and/or giving a heartfelt hug of gratitude and love for caring. The way we can wrap our arms around each other is such a cool gift from God. An embrace is a good thing. I can only imagine the sort of hug that Nichole must've given her friend Marisol after she was shown the forgiving grace of God.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at August 27, 2007 01:05 PM