Yesterday I had the privledge of hearing a man by the name of Alvin Ung preach in my "Preaching and Worship" tutorial. He spoke out of the passage found in John 7:53-8:11, and did a powerful job of allowing us to enter into its rich truths. But one of the things that he said which spoke to my heart was this line;
"Jesus' solitude allows Him to minister in a life-giving manner."
That was such a powerful thought because of how I view myself. I want so desperately to be a person who is used by God to offer life to others. But as Alvin so richly brought out, the whole context of the passage begins by Jesus entering into a time and space of silence in which His heart could be restored by the Father. ("Then each went to his own home.... but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.") That makes the passage come that much more alive to me.
If I attempt to offer life apart from communion with the Father... if I choose to forego aligning my heart with His... I cannot offer real life to others. At least not on a long-term basis. Christ was able to offer life to that woman caught in adultery ("Then neither do I condemn you... go now and leave your life of sin.") amidst a setting of death and destruction (verse 3-6 in which the teachers of the Law sought not only for her death, but Christ's also) because of His divine communion and fellowship with the Father.
I see this not as a step to use in order to get the results I want, but rather as permission... as freedom... as liberation. I am invited to come be who the Father designed me to be... and that begins by creating space for Him to enter into and meet with me in the most intimate of terms.
I offer life by first receiving life... Hallelujah!
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The fasinating thing about this women is that it seems like she had no idea what was happening. She had been set up, because you have to wonder, where is the man in this senerio. One of the best lines that Jesus delievers is the one where He looks at her and says, "Where are your accusers?" Then He says, "I don't accuse you either. Go your way and sin no more." Amazing Grace how sweet the sound. He didn't put her in a 12 step program, or any program. The emotional impact of the moment would stay with her forever. So it seems that there is a good chance that her life would never be the same. It is all about process, a day at a time, a step at a time. That is the way of Grace.
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