This week, we have a special series for our First Word Blog.
For Summers 2005 and 2006, Program Director Jessica “Shadow” Bordeleau created a series of first-person devotions sharing the perspective of different people from the Bible and their interactions with Jesus. Campers would go on a “Jesus Walk” one of their nights at camp and hear from different counselors acting out biblical characters who would tell “their” story to the campers. Here is how that night was introduced to campers:
Tonight is a special devotion. You will go on a journey to see Jesus. You will travel from fire to fire looking for Jesus. You will be led in songs the entire way. You will sing as you walk from fire to fire. One you get to a fire you will sit quietly on the benches and wait to see what will happen. Your journey begins now! Remember you are looking for Jesus.
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Forgiven - John 8:1-11
Have you ever done something terrible? Something you are ashamed of and wished never happened? I did...and it nearly destroyed me. I was raised in a good home, I knew right from wrong- but I did what I wanted. The people I hung around with weren't the best. I thought they wouldn't affect me, but they did. It’s not as if I had ever planned on doing those things, but I went farther and farther into sin each time. I traded my purity for things I thought would make me happy – love, security, excitement, selfishness. My sin took over my life until it became all that people saw when they looked at me. “SHE’S A SINNER!”
They thought they were so good, those Pharisees who looked down on everyone. I told myself that I didn't care what those self righteous people thought anyway... but I did. I knew that what I was doing was wrong, but I used every excuse to make it sound alright. I told myself that I would never ever do it again, that this was the last time...but each time the situation came I just did it again. I was caught in a web of sin that I couldn’t escape from.
Then it happened- they caught me. I’m sure it was a set up, the Pharisees grabbed me and dragged me away. They threw me down in front of a new teacher, Jesus. I had heard of Him- He preached about love and forgiveness - yah right. Let's see how forgiving He is now! The Pharisees had caught me in the act of adultery and by the law of Moses my punishment was to be stoned to death. They reminded Jesus of the Law and then asked him. “Teacher what should we do with her?” What a joke. They knew what they wanted to do- they had already picked up fist sized rocks, and were ready to throw them at me until I was dead. They were just using me to make Jesus look bad- my life didn't even matter to them. It was just a plan to discredit Jesus. I didn’t matter to them.... When they looked at me all they saw was my sin.
I knew it was over, I was going to die for my sins. There was nothing I could do or say to stop them. I am a sinner and sin always brings death. I sat curled on the ground, bracing myself for the impact of the rocks against my body. I looked at Jesus. He was so close. He was stooping near the ground- The Bible says He was close enough to the ground to write in the dust. He was the only one close enough to the ground to look me in the eyes. Everyone else just saw my sin, but Jesus was looking at me.
He stood up and said "He who is without sin, throw the first one!" I couldn’t believe it, what was He saying? I deserved to die. I had broken God’s law. The Pharisees just stared at Him, they didn’t know what was going on either. He acknowledged that I did deserve to die and that whoever was perfect had the right to kill me...but who is perfect? How could anyone throw a rock at me? One by one they dropped their rocks and walked away. They just walked away.
Jesus was looking at me. He said "Is there anyone who condemnes you?" I looked around. They were gone- all of them...gone. I said "No one... Lord." "Then neither do I condemn you. Leave your life of sin.” He didn’t pretend that my sin didn’t matter. He told me to stop what I was doing...and yet he saw more than my sin. He showed me mercy. He forgave me.
Jesus came down to where I was and forgave my sins. There is no sin so great that he can’t take it away. Confess your sins to Him and your sins are gone! We all deserve to die for our sins, but Jesus died in our place. He didn't stay up in heaven, far away, He comes close to us and forgives us. Because Jesus died instead of you, when God looks at you He doesn't just see your sin, He looks at you and sees Jesus. You are forgiven. Leave your sin! Leave it in His hands, on His back, on His cross- and never pick it up again. Your sins and the guilt over your sins don’t belong to you any more! Jesus took them, Jesus forgives you!
God looks at the Christian; He sees Jesus, and says “YOU ARE FORGIVEN!”