An Answer for Injustice
“Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’” (Jn 8:10). This is one of the most riveting scenes in the Bible. It perfectly encapsulates God’s mercy and justice. This woman has been set up, preyed upon. She is but collateral damage for the religious leaders real target. They only set her up in order to set Jesus up. Whenever the enemy attacks you he's always ultimately after Jesus. He wants to discredit God’s perfect love and justice. Nothing has caused more people to reject Christianity than all the injustices in the world. “How could a fair, just, and all-loving God allow this to happen?” And although the gospel does not answer all of our “Why?” questions. It does give us something nothing else can: a God who has experienced, and can completely identify, with pain and injustice. Jesus was a victim of injustice too. Which is why Hebrews 4:15 (The Message) says: “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality.”
Just as He stood up for the woman caught in adultery, Jesus stands up for you. God is always on the side of the victim. This woman’s accusers wanted to stone her for her sin, but Jesus reminds them “what about your sin?” We often want God to interrupt the pain and injustices we’re experiencing. But what about the pain and injustices we’ve caused? The only way to ultimately deal with injustice and pain is to destroy the cause, SIN. The problem is we’ve all sinned. “The wages of sin is death,” (Rom. 6:23). So in order to save more people for eternity God, in His infinite wisdom, is temporarily allowing the injustice and pain to continue. “For now, for a little while, we may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials,“ (1 Peter 1:6). But one day, every injustice will be dealt with, every sorrow and pain will be answered for. Even our sins. However if we fall down Jesus's feet and make him our advocate we have nothing to fear.
When Jesus says “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (Jn 8:7). All of her accusers quickly disappear. “Jesus stood up and said to her “‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:10,11). When we make Christ our Savior and Lord He does the same for us. When the accuser comes at you, Jesus stands up for you! “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens,” (Heb. 7:25-26). The only sinless person who has any right to judge/condemn us, defends us. He does not defend the sin, but the sinner. He paid the price with his perfect blood. He placed His body between us and the accuser. He chose to receive our justice so that we might receive his mercy. Like Christ, Christians are commanded, to stand up for the afflicted, and against injustice. To be a source of healing and refuge. Do everything you can do, and trust that God will do everything He can do. Unfortunately as long as sin is allowed to exist, so is injustice. But remember, God’s perfect Justice is on the way. Until then hold onto Christ. You are not alone in this trial. Jesus is standing up for you!