He's Giving You A New Name In Exchange For Your Shame

This morning in my Bible reading, I talked over John 8 with Jesus, specifically the woman caught in the act of her sin. Something so interesting kept piercing my heart as I meditated on the Word.... Jesus bent down and patiently began writing something in the dirt as the accusations were hurled against her and the hands of the Pharisees gripped the stones that they would use to destroy her. 

At first glance, it could appear that Jesus was behaving nonchalantly in the face of her greatest humiliation. I am quite sure she was drug out completely naked to stand before the crowd that were so pleased with themselves for the fact that she would soon pay for her vile behavior. Probably in desperation, she tried to cover her guilt and nakedness, but every attempt was futile. After all, she did deserve the stoning now didn't she? But Jesus....

Jesus stooped down not once but twice and traced something in the dirt as she stood in humiliation awaiting the first stone to the face. "He who is without sin..." 

Here is what struck me so deeply...I think that very possibly when she looked to the ground in shame and condemnation she saw something startling. I think that there in the dusty earth, penned by the finger of the One who came for her... Was her name. I think that she didn't see the word WHORE. She didn't see ADULTERESS. She didn't see FORGOTTEN. I think she very possibly saw her name... I think for maybe the first time ever, she saw who she was and who He was calling her to be. 

One by one the stones fell to the ground and every accuser walked away. Jesus, so patient in His waiting, simply called her by her original purpose and then declared over her the freedom and grace to sin no more. 

You are more than the bad choices, more than the sin and more than what they call you. You have a name, and a Savior who is waiting to be merciful to you.

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you..."- Isaiah 30:18