Sermon

The Liberated Life

August 20, 2023 Christchurch Clevedon - Sermons

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What does it mean to be liberated in our life? What does it mean to be free? The dictionary
definition is freed from social conventions to be freed from enemy occupation. The Bible this
morning introduces us to a woman. We don't know her name, we're not told. The woman has been caught
jointly in the act of adultery with a man. That's really important to point out that it takes two.
But she's the one that they drag and yet as scripture tells us she will be liberated by love
and grace, humility and forgiveness. The people who accused her brought her to Jesus
and who was teaching in the temple courts. They brought him at that time right into the middle
of the heart of where the religious community meet. It's a place where people have come
to be with Jesus. They were fascinated with his teaching. They were there, they were gathered
wondering what he would do or say next. And then they drag this woman in. You couldn't arrange a more
public stage for this to be played out. And yet here is Jesus and the religious leaders quote the law
which says that we should stone her to death. What do you say? What do you say Jesus? What do you say
about this situation? Because we want to hear shockingly the law by which they abided said exactly that.
Here were the leaders seeking to discredit Jesus. They'd seen him do the miracles. They'd seen the way in
which he'd forgiven people. Everything that was contrary to the law. It was a catch. It was a trap.
They were here to set him up. Did they care about this woman? No they didn't. She was just going to be
collateral damage because they wanted to make their point and uphold the law. They didn't care about what
happened to this woman. They just wanted to enforce their way and wanted to catch Jesus out. The religious
leaders had heard the reports of this rabbi about his increasing influence in their lives and in the
lives of people. People were following him. This man was a threat. This man Jesus who shows grace to
tax collectors. Who gathers prostitutes. Who speaks to the unclean. Who eats with people who the religious
leaders would never eat with. People who they had branded as being unworthy of God's love and God's
righteousness and forgiveness. And so by placing this woman in front of him clearly guilty in
their eyes would Jesus. Would Jesus show her mercy? Would he break with the conventions? Could they
point their fingers at him and claim him to be a heretic? Maybe to be a false prophet? A rabbi who
doesn't uphold the law? You see the picture? That was their goal. That was their intention. But this
is Jesus. This is the Jesus that we know. Who I guess Jesus knew their hearts. He knew their motives. He knew
their intentions. He saw the trap before it arrived. He noticed their insecurities maybe because they had
come ready and they had come armed to do what they were going to do according to their law.
You know what? Says Jesus. Do you know what? You're right about the law. That's what the law says. You were
right about the punishment that she should be stoned to death. But not today. But not today.
Because let the one among you who is without sin be the first one to throw the stone at her.
At this point those who heard him began to go away one at a time. The older ones first. I find that
really interesting in this account that the older ones went first. Why was that? Why was that? Perhaps
are they older and wiser? Perhaps were they aware more of their own sin? Perhaps they knew the law better
than those that were younger? Perhaps they too in their hearts knew that they had no right to cast this
stone. Maybe the younger ones there stayed. They were in high arousal. Maybe ready and zealous to show
others how they upheld the law. Maybe they wanted to see blood spilt that day just to show that they were in line
with all the conventions. That they could be whipped up into hate. We see it again and again. We saw it crucify him.
A whole group that would come together and be whipped up. It happens and it happens today. But on this day
they knew that to act would be blasphemous and they would be the one facing the punishment.
So they dropped their rocks.
Jesus was left with the woman
and his disciples as well. Can you imagine the moment? I guess
the stillness
just like that the scene has been transformed.
What was a place of chaos
and hate is now being transformed
into a place of grace.
The storm of anger and judgment
has moved on.
And I love this line
because it is so Jesus.
And if you have heard this
in your life
as I have many times
Jesus straightened up and asked her
woman where are they?
Woman where are they?
Has no one condemned you?
What a great line.
No one sir
she said
then neither do I condemn you
Jesus declares.
Go now
and leave
your life
of sin.
It's a beautiful picture
of grace
that we're given this morning
that in a moment
this woman who is under judgment
of the law
is liberated
by love.
she is free.
We've been singing
about that this morning.
Free to leave behind her
what was death
or very nearly death
and to live a new life.
Free
to leave
her life
of sin.
Totally
freed.
Jesus
brings mercy
and love
humility
and grace
into the heart
of conflict
and judgment
and we so often
miss the essential
in verse 6
and 9
because when we get
to verse 6
and 9
where Jesus
bent down
and started to write
on the ground
with his finger
and he straightened up
and said
let any one of you
as without sin
be the first
to throw a stone at her.
Again he stooped down
and wrote on the ground.
Now you may be thinking
now
Clive's going to tell us
what he wrote
in the ground.
I'm sorry
to disappoint you.
There's been several
that have made
several suggestions
as to what he would
have written
and what he did
but we're not told.
But again
commentaries
have speculated
perhaps more than
focusing on
what he was writing
Jesus
stoops down
twice.
Jewish men
didn't do that
in the presence
of a woman.
he stoops down
twice
and shows
his humility
in the face
of a woman
who has been
brought to him
effectively
being found
in a place of sin
and he stoops
down
twice.
What an amazing
saviour that we have
who meets with us
especially
in the presence
and let's put a marker
in the sand today
that if anybody
tells you
that the Bible
is misogynistic
against women
clearly they haven't
read it
or they don't
understand it
because Jesus
did more
in three years
of public ministry
than any culture
has done
in thousands
of years
to raise up
the value
dignity
and richness
he places
on this woman
and all women.
Amen?
Amen.
Let's not forget
his teaching
to the religious leaders
too that day
because
they had to
look at themselves
they had to
look at the hate
in their own eyes
they had to look
at their religious
piety
their holier
than thou
attitudes
with unforgiveness
in their hearts
and stones
in their hands
these leaders
seeking to
discredit him
yet Jesus
liberated them
too
because he revealed
to them
where they were wrong
they too
had to walk
away
wrong
about how
the law
of God
is designed
to work
and yes
they should
love the Lord
their God
with all their heart
with all their soul
with all their mind
etc
but they should
also love
their neighbour
as themselves
on these two
laws
hang
all the
prophets
and the prophets
as Jesus
reminds us
yes there will
be a judgement
yes there will
be a death
but it won't
be hers
and it won't
be yours
and it won't
be from these
stones
it will be
from me
says Jesus
and it will
be from a cross
that's the freedom
you see the link
I was thinking
as I read
through this scripture
Jesus humbles
himself twice
before this woman
and before the crowd
in front of this woman
who said
and he's done
the same
for you and me
humbling himself
by entering
this world
as a vulnerable
baby
and secondly
as he humbles
himself on a cross
by dying for us
and rising again
that we can have
freedom
and eternal life
there's so many
links in this scripture
that you don't
take it just
at face value
there is so much
in here
that speaks
of the Jesus
that we know
and that we love
and that played
out that day
on the stage
to free us
to liberate us
from the power
of death and sin
to free us
from any power
the enemy may try
to hold over us
from the accusations
from the judgment
from the people
who point
at us
that we
are free
within the love
of God
in him
there is
no condemnation
I just sensed
this morning
that there may be
those of us
who need to hear
that afresh
that in Christ
there is
no condemnation
as people
come with their
stones
to judge you
in Christ
there is
no condemnation
we are forgiven
and we are free
when we meet
with Jesus
we don't know
what happened
to this woman's
story
we don't know
what happened
after
after this
dramatic
encounter
we can only
imagine
one can only
imagine
somebody
who is
forever changed
who walks
away
her eyes
have been
opened
to the actions
of what she
was doing
sin no longer
held an appeal
it once did
and she walks
free
considering what
a free life
would be
what has been
left behind her
and what lays
before her
in freedom
that she has
in her life
and when we
meet Jesus
sin no longer
has a hold
sin no longer
has its fatal
attraction on us
grace changes
our perspective
when we are
born again
in the power
of the Holy Spirit
he breaks
through
and once
we lived
only to
please ourselves
but when we
have been forgiven
our motivation
changes
we are now
live
to please
God
do we know
that powerful
forgiveness
in our lives
I hope we do
I sincerely
hope we do
as we worship
as we give
thanks for our
liberation
our freedom
here this morning
to be able
to just come
and to worship
as one
without fear
of people
breaking in the
doors
to drag us
out
are we giving
thanks for our
liberation
as we heard
as we sang
about day
by day
moment
by moment
we have
moved from
death to
new life
in Christ
and before
we walk
away today
I suppose
the challenge
is for me
and I hope
the challenge
is for you
is what
stones do
we need
to drop
where we
judge other
people
what stones
do we
carry
that we
hold on
to
that we
hold on
to firmly
where suddenly
judgment
comes to
mind
and the
stones
maybe
that we
need
to drop
knowing
the love
maybe one
two
maybe more
how many
stones
do we
need to
drop
today
and what
do those
stones
look like
for us
that we
carry
to pass
judgment
on others
our thoughts
our comments
harsh opinions
maybe even
just that
glance
Jesus
says
to those
that
gathered
drop
your
stones
and leave
this one
to me
leave
this to
me
walk
away
remembering
and give
thanks for
the good
life
that I
have given
you
to live
because you
are liberated
and free
because of
what I have
done
and what I
continue to
do
the liberating
love of God
invites us
to leave
the judgment
to him
to look
at ourselves
to drop
the stones
we so
often pick
up
to throw
at others
and in
doing so
he raises
us up
to new
life in
him
shall we
pray
raise us
up Lord
we pray
free us
from seeking
to be
judge
and jury
we leave
that to
you Lord
forgive us
our sin
thank you
Lord that
you free
us to
sin no
more
Lord give
us clean
hands and
a pure
heart
in Jesus
name
Amen