House Church #2. The Real Jesus. Love [AND Judge.]

The Love.

Grace on Display in the Person of Jesus.

Example 1.  John 4.  Woman at the Well.

God’s grace always strikes up a conversation, it is proactive.  Jesus here was breaking down societal boundaries.  He was speaking to a woman, which was unheard of for someone in his position.  What boundaries do we enforce today by being unwilling to interact?  What would following Christ’s example look like in today’s society?

God’s grace is not afraid to deal with people’s problems.  v.16.  It seems random here for Jesus to instruct this woman to call her husband to come.  He was plunging deeper into the woman’s condition, and need for healing, by making the request.  This conversation ultimately resulted in a claim to salvation and a call to sin no more.  Is this questioning something we can do effectively?  Are we ready to assist in humility and truth with people’s struggles when we are made aware of them?

Example 2.  John 8.  Woman to be Stoned.

God’s grace is not tolerance.  Grace acknowledges the wrong thing done, but forgives and prompts to right living in response.  Tolerance ignores the wrong, and does not want anyone to speak of it.  Jesus was never a man of tolerance.  He was also never looked upon as judgmental.  I mean, look at the people who are coming to him.  How do we also attract the hurting without judging?  Do we have people in our lives that stand beside us and do not condemn us, but call us to sin no more?

Example 3.  Luke 7.  Woman with the Hair.

God’s grace is understood by those who feel the weight of their sin.  The woman in this story is remiss in her adoration for Jesus.  She holds nothing back.  Not resources.  Not pride.  Not timidity.  Not affection.  So too are we called.  But how do we get there?  Isn’t it easier to acknowledge God’s redeeming grace if we come out of a life like this woman?  We all should be able to relate to her, actually.  When we compare ourselves to Jesus himself, we all should be devastated by our sin.  Do we play the comparison game?  Who are we comparing ourselves to?  What does that do to our relationships with others/God?