Still I will – Day 15

Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks where she sat in the dust. Her heart was broken. Her hope for an outcome, totally diminished. She was caught having an affair. And although she had remorse for her actions, she knew she was guilty, and therefore had to die.

The revulsion and rejection for what she did was clear in the eyes of the Pharisees and scribes. Some of them already had stones in their hands. “Sir,” she heard one of them talking to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. Moses commanded us in the law to stone such women, but you, what do you say?” Mary Magdalene’s eyes were downcast, her heart racing. Will Jesus give them permission to stone her? She deserved it. She hated what she did, but it was too late now. For a moment silence hung in the air, then Jesus spoke: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).

Instead of stones raining down on Mary Magdalene, she heard the men leaving one by one — some dropping the stones as they went. When everyone was gone, Jesus looked at her and asked: “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” Through fresh tears, she whispered: “No one, sir …” He nodded before continuing: “Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11).

Few of us have never been in a situation where we felt, like Mary Magdalene, ashamed of wrong decisions or actions in our past. Sometimes we truly repent and confess our sins and even turn away from it, but we find it hard to believe that God has truly forgiven us. We therefore continually beg for forgiveness and never experience a life in abundance. The enemy wants to keep us there. Yet, God wants to remind us that Jesus’ death on the cross has set us free — completely.

In 1 John 1:9 we read: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” In Psalm 103:12 we read: “… as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” And in Isaiah 43:25 God says: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus Christ radically changed her life. One moment of undeserved grace made her follow Him until His death on the cross. She even became the first person to see Him after His resurrection. Let’s keep our eyes on God, reminding ourselves of what Jesus did on the cross. His grace is sufficient for you too. Don’t wait too long before experiencing the life of freedom and abundance He plans for you. God bless.