Have you taken time to truly pursue the heart of God, knowing Him for who He is and focusing on His identity? Our sin flows from flawed hearts clouded from God’s original design and is completely foreign to the heart of God, which is holy.
The woman caught in adultery answered Jesus’ question asking who was left to still condemn her: “‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin’” (John 8:11). From four potential options for the word sin, John used hamartia for Jesus’ command to the woman, noting she had been missing the mark, a condition of her spiritual heart. He revealed what He desired for her, His humble heart, because life with God is a kingdom of the heart, and a humble heart forgives. She had clearly met the Forgiver full of grace and truth (John 1:14). This is the gospel message.
Notice Jesus’ words were to the woman and not the crowd. He took a great risk in the presence of the self-proclaimed upright, by aligning Himself with her. Jesus does the same today with you and with me. Whereas, justice is receiving what we deserve, and mercy is not receiving what we deserve; grace is receiving what we do not deserve.
The young woman caught in adultery had been saved by the hand of Jesus. She had been freed by the face of Jesus. Finally, she peered into the heart of Jesus, which was the heart of God. He told Moses that He was gracious, meaning He bends or stoops to one who is inferior (Exodus 34:6). Jesus said that He was humble in heart (Matthew 11:29). The Pharisees’ hearts were stone, rigid and legalistic, just like the stones in their hands. The woman’s heart was sand, loose and licentious, like the dust on the stone of the Temple floor where Jesus wrote with His finger. However, Jesus’ humble heart was a heart of clay, one that was malleable in the hands of His Heavenly Father.
How have you responded to the clay humble heart of Christ full of grace and truth? Pursue His heart by memorizing the following verse: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). When facing conflict, recite these words and pray for the heart of Christ to be evident in you.
Episode 393: Restoration Theology | Christology: The Study of Christ from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.