“The ability to love someone despite what they have done . . . is rare. Yet Jesus shows us over and over in the Gospels that He loved people not because of what they did or didn’t do . . . He didn’t love them because of who they were. He loved them because of who He was. There is something profound about a love that is not performance based. True love doesn’t give grades.”- Mark Batterson
Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and from now on sin no more.”- John 8:10-11 (ESV)
Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 8 of A Trip around the Sun with a memorable moment from his high school days in Naperville. On the way to one of his basketball games, Mark took a sharp left turn and cut off a car coming in the opposite direction. One of those cars, he quips, with lights and a siren.
As a result, Mark ducked down some side roads, hoping to lose the police officer. But that attempt failed, and Mark received a $100 ticket. So, as a ‘caring’ son, he neglected to inform his parents. Except that the police department sent a copy of the ticket to his parents.
One evening, after Mark’s basketball team mounted a 23-point comeback in the last five minutes, his father approached him on the court. And he said . . . that he would pay Mark’s ticket. No recriminations!
In conclusion, Pastor Batterson cites one of the core values of National Community Church: love people when they least expect it and least deserve it. Then he applies that core value to Jesus’ encounter with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).
Mark stresses:
“The only One who had a right to pick up a stone and throw it was the One who came to her defense and loved her when she least expected it and least deserved it. . . . [Jesus] changed her death sentence into a new lease on life. Not only did she not have to die, but He offered her a new way to live.”
Today’s question: When have you experience love that’s not performance based? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “An indelible imprint on our souls”
