Now, unbending, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?" Now she said, "No one, Lord!" Now Jesus said, "Neither am I condemning you. Go! From now on by no means any longer be sinning."
Johns Account 8: 10=11, Concordant New Testament
It is one of my favorite scenes from the Chosen series. Mary Magdalene has found her way into what we might call a modern day pub. Broken and distraught, she asks the proprietor for a drink of what we assume is an alcohol of that time. Although reluctant to serve her, the keeper offers her the drink she has requested. Within seconds, we see a mans hand touch her shoulder. As she looks behind her she stares into the eyes of Jesus! Far from condemning her for partaking in her drink of choice, Jesus simply tells her "This isn't for you." This is a profound scene which has taken particular meaning from a time in my own life as well. See, I once dabbled in things which Jesus would have said were "Not for you." For more than a few years, I immersed myself in the strip club scene of Portland. Yes, I knew it was wrong, but the pull of the flesh overrode that part of my own conscience. It seemed that I had no way out of the life I lived. But, as He often does, Jesus had other plans for me. One night, as I was about to enter into another flesh palace, I was reminded that "This isn't who you are." As He had done with His daughter Mary, the Lord was reminding me that He had so much better for me. That night, I turned and left even before entering another of idolizing the flesh. Was it my conscience which finally convinced me that what I was doing was wrong? Remember, I had ignored my own conscience for so long that I began to accept my behaviors as being normal. But, in my heart I knew that Jesus had been correct, this wasn't who I was in His eyes. In the eyes of the Father, I am not a sinner, but His loved child. It was because of His love for Mary Magdalene that Jesus confronted her in her weakest moment. It was also because of His love for me that He introduced me to who I truly am in His eyes. For those who struggle with things they know are wrong, we do well to remember that Jesus does not speak to us to condemn {Johns Account 3:16-17}. In my years in the mainstream church, I witnessed far too many times how it is that so called Christian pastors use "Intervention" in order to scare believers back to church. I can only imagine what such an intervention would have looked like that night I heeded the words of Jesus.
A gym friend I know has related to me just how those within the church would deal with a wayward "Sinner saved by grace." Following the scriptures, he would confront his sinful brother with his misdeeds. If his brother would not listen, he would then gather a few brothers from within the church and together THEY would confront the sinner. If their brother continues to go his own way, they are to consider him as a gentile or a tax collector (In other words, reviled){Matthews Account 18:15-17}. Yet, in the words of the apostle Paul in his evangel, we see a different approach. Paul speaks to restoring a brother caught in transgression with "A spirit of gentleness" {Paul to the Galatians 6:1}. Tell me, which approach would you find most effective? Which approach is it that we see being used by Jesus with Mary and also with myself in my situation? Remember, Jesus has not come to condemn but to redeem. In His own words spoken to Mary in that scene from the Chosen, Jesus proclaims that "I have redeemed you...I have called you by name." In my opinion, many well meaning believers could learn an important lesson from Jesus in this regard. We should not be looking to "Confront" a brother or sister caught in transgression, but to approach them as Jesus has, with a spirit of gentleness and compassion. THIS is how Jesus has spoken to us in our own transgressions, why would we treat a brother differently? Paul has also spoken to the truth that there is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus {Paul to the Romans 8:1}. If a Christian brother is caught in transgression is he deserving of our condemnation? Or, as Jesus has demonstrated, is he deserving of a reminder of the truth of who he is in the eyes of the Lord?
Brethren, if a man should be precipitated, also, in some offense, you, who are spiritual, be attuning such a one, in a spirit of meekness, noting yourself, that you, also, may be tried
Paul to the Galatians 6: 1, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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