I am fascinated and more than a little convicted when I look at the behaviors that caused Jesus to react with harsh words. Jesus often responded to sinners with grace and no condemnation. A woman caught in adultery was dragged before Jesus with the demand that he condone the law that she should be killed for her sin. His reaction? Jesus knelt down, wrote in the sand, and challenged the persons without any sin to hurl the first rock.  When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (John 8, NLT) Jesus had compassion on a person who was deeply shamed and in need of
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