Another Chance: What Will We Be?
Reflections on John 8:1-12 and the Promise of Grace
The Question We All Ask
"What will I be?"
It's a question that echoes through childhood, through those years when we lived under the covering of our parents' prayers and rules. Most of us share similar stories—if we misbehaved outside the house, the neighbor got us first, then Mama, then Daddy. We lived under that law, that structure, longing for the day we'd be on our own.
But here's the truth many of us discovered: getting out from under that covering revealed just how much we needed grace.
The Trap of Judgment
In John 8, we find Jesus facing religious leaders who thought they had Him cornered. They brought a woman caught in adultery—selectively enforcing a law that required both parties be punished, conveniently producing only the woman. Their goal wasn't righteousness. It was power, image, control.
They set a trap: If Jesus condemned her, His credibility as a compassionate teacher would crumble. If He didn't, they'd have grounds to kill Him for contradicting Moses.
But Jesus knew the first rule of traps: recognize them, and you won't step into them.
When Words Become Stones
Instead of engaging their accusations, Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dirt. He let them talk themselves into a corner. Then He stood and spoke seven words that changed everything:
"He who is without sin, let him throw the first stone."
Then He stooped down again.
Consider the source. When you know who you are in Christ, when you're rooted in God's truth about you, other people's stones—those hurling words meant to wound—lose their power. You don't have to defend yourself frantically. You respond with compassion, with wisdom, and move on.
One by one, from oldest to youngest, the stone-throwers dropped their rocks and walked away. Guilt has that effect when we're honest enough to face it.
The Woman We Are
When Jesus finally stood again, only the woman remained—vulnerable, guilty, waiting.
"Where are your accusers?" He asked.
"No one, Lord."
"Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."
Another chance.
We are that woman. Every one of us. Guilty of our sins, standing before Jesus, in desperate need of compassion and forgiveness. And what does He offer? Not condemnation, but restoration. Not punishment, but another chance to get it right.
How many chances have you received? How many times has God said, "Try again. I'm with you this time"?
The Problem or The Promise?
Here's where the sermon gets personal for all of us:
Will we be the problem or the promise?
The problem is a church that judges and condemns through hypocrisy—failing to extend to others the same compassion we desperately needed when we were lost.
The promise is a church that follows Jesus' commandment to love God completely and love our neighbors as ourselves. A church that:
Comforts those who mourn
Restores those caught in sin—gently
Loves enemies and prays for persecutors
Shows that love is patient and kind
Bears each other's burdens
Forgives as the Lord forgave us
Walking in the Light
Jesus concluded this encounter by declaring, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Walking with Jesus means we're covered—not by our parents' prayers anymore (though we're grateful for them), but by His presence within us through the Holy Spirit. He dwells in us to teach us, guide us, help us conduct ourselves in holiness.
But we have to lean into Him. We have to walk this out ourselves.
The Daily Question
Every day, we face a choice: Will I operate in judgment or compassion? Will I throw stones or drop them? Will I be quick to condemn or quick to restore?
The same grace that saved you is the grace that saves the person who hurt you, disappointed you, or sinned against you.
We all need another chance. We all need Jesus.
So I'll ask you what the sermon asked Morningstar:
Will we be the promise?