God of Balance and "Imbalance", Part 2:
Condescending and Commanding But ...
In our series on "Balance" and "Imbalance" (an item
straight out of Ripley's Book of Believe it or not?) Of God, one remarkable
feature, which characterized our Savior's ministry on Earth, was that of
balance.
He hated sin but loved sinners. He was all for paying taxes to Caesar,
without in anyway ignoring our financial obligations to the Giver of all
gifts. He lauded his disciples when they earned it, and duly reprimanded
them when they were going off track.
Today, let's look at the two of the three incidents in our Master's life
when He walked the fine line…
Condescending but…
Remember the account of Jewish religious leaders bringing a woman caught in
adultery before him (John 8:1-11) for judgment, and most importantly His
resulting judgment on the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 20:10), which demanded her
stoning.
Of course Jesus' envious enemies (surprisingly not robbers or murderers, but
fellow servants in God's vineyard…the Teachers of the Law, Pharisees et al),
outraged by His growing popularity amongst the masses, desperately wanted to
tarnish his image publicly by labelling Him a "breaker of the Law". How our
good Lord handled that dicey situation is the very definition of being
balanced in a crisis, and later His demeanour with the guilty one reflected
his attitude towards sin and a sinner.
With His critics waiting with bated breath for the slightest slip, which
would send His public popularity ratings on a nose-dive, our Lord handled
the tricky situation with His typical equilibrium. Without in any way,
diminishing the significance of the Mosaic Law, He appealed to the
universal, higher Law of conscience in every individual ready to stone the
hapless adulteress.
"He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."
(John 8:7)
While on the subject, doesn't this question ring a bell in the minds of
every overtly critical Christian nursing a holier than attitude towards
others?
Then the Gospel writer John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, takes
the scene to a stirring climax…
"At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the
older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still
standing there" (John 8:9).
What does this verse actually mean?
Very simple.
If anybody had the right to cast a stone on this sinful woman, it was the
spotless, Holy Son of God. What did He do?
Let the Scripture (John 8:10-11) take over: "Jesus straightened up and
asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 'No one, sir,'
she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and
leave your life of sin.'" (John 8:11)
Did Jesus declare, "Go now and continue your life of sin?" NO!!!
Rather leave your life of sin. Jesus hated sin but loved sinners. Need
any further proof? Amazing balance isn't it?
Commanding but…
Now Jesus' enemies wouldn't give-up so easily in their efforts to publicly
disgrace him. Later on in Jerusalem, they thought He would be lax in His
verdict on paying tax to Caesar (Jews' avowed enemy and their despised ruler
at that time). They thought they had Him when they publicly fired this
tricky question at Him: "Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or
not?" (Matt 22:15), only to be outwitted by a "smart one" from the good
Lord "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and
unto God the things that are God's" (Matt 22:21 KJV).
Christians are commanded to pay their taxes to the Government, without
putting on the backburner the need to pay the tithes to their Local Church
and support those who preach the Gospel to them. One without the other would
displease the KING OF ALL KINGS, who has put every Government in its place
(Malachi 3:6-12/Romans 13:1-7/I Cor 9:14), and commissioned His every
servant to serve Him, without taking-up any secular livelihood.
Please join us next Thursday for OF BALANCE AND
IMBALANCE, Part 3.
Prayer: Father enable us to love sinners, even whilst hating sin, pay our
taxes whilst uncompromisingly supporting Your Ministry with our finances. In
Jesus Name. Amen
Suresh Manoharan
Hyderbad-India www.jandsmministries.com