Today’s Reading: John 7:2–8:11

The Bible touchingly tells us in Hebrews 4:15 that Jesus – “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” But it is hard to see our precious Saviour so misunderstood and misrepresented by even His own family! Yet He does quietly go up to the feast and teaches the people and does point out the double standards of the Jews – of it being O.K. to circumcise a child on the Sabbath, but not O.K. for Jesus to heal on the Sabbath! I understand, I think, how easy it is to have double standards when my will is involved but it is serious because then I judge by “appearances” and am not able to make a right judgment!

But Jesus cannot be arrested by the Jews or their guards because the time of His arrest had not come yet and His work was not finished yet. So our loving Father also protects us until our work for Him is done and we too “will go to the one Who sent us.” Paul in 1 Timothy encourages us to “fight the good fight of faith!”

I always like the fact, that the greater the danger and the more the pressure put on Nicodemus, it only made Nicodemus, the secret disciple, become more public and more open in his devotion to his Saviour and here he defends Jesus and then at the end with Joseph lovingly cares for the body of Jesus giving it a proper burial of honour! I wonder if I am growing in my faith and responding like Nicodemus and am I growing in my boldness?

And last of all in our reading for today, it seems suitable for a Sunday reading to have the story of a condemned woman by the Jews – set free to live a life of freedom. I too like the woman could be accused of many things and condemned, but Jesus Himself assures me that “Truly, truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him Who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged (or condemned) but has crossed over from death to life.” And Paul in Romans 8:1 assures me again, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” My loving Father wants all His children to know and enjoy the beautiful security of knowing we can never be condemned!” And thinking of how condemned this woman must have felt, it is a joy to hear Jesus’ loving words, “…neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” That is true freedom – the freedom to which He calls us to live in!