Wednesday, March 02, 2016

In our last visit we discovered that Jesus often spoke directly to issues people were facing so that decisions could be made by those He addressed. This is why people were amazed, because He spoke with authority. At times an indirect answer implied a direct response. When in John 8 the religious leaders brought a woman to Jesus who was caught in adultery and asked Him if He thought she should be stoned, He responded by indirectly answering them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” This was such a direct/indirect answer that every last one of her accusers left the scene without even picking up a stone. When none of them were left Jesus turned to the woman and said He would not condemn her, but then declared, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Another incident when Jesus was direct was in the upper room when He told the disciples they would all fall away. Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” Jesus answered him directly, “I tell you the truth, today – yes, tonight – before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times!” Peter’s emphatic insistence that he would not disown Jesus was followed by failure just a short time later that evening. Fortunately for him, he realized his failure and immediately went out into the night and wept tears of repentance. He remembered, bitterly, Jesus’ direct warning as well as His assurance that He had prayed for him, that his faith would not fail and that he would return. What powerful words of encouragement.