Monday 9 June 2025
But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. (v. 4)
Background
I love how the pictures of the Messiah, as revealed in Isaiah, line up so clearly with Jesus. How the very ancestor of Jesus (Jesse, the father of David) is revealed as a signpost to the one who was born Messiah. Yet so much more than that, how the character of the Messiah will be recognisable.
In John’s Gospel, a woman caught in adultery is brought before Jesus. They tell him of her crimes and show her to him. The law of Moses was very clear on what the punishment should be. Yet, Isaiah said the Messiah “will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.” (vs 3-4)
In the encounter with the woman, Jesus asks her “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)
I love this about Jesus. He acts with grace and mercy, yet with a call to change our ways. He brings us out of sin and shows us a path to life. No-one can say that we deserved to meet with God; that our lives were so perfect that God could introduce himself to us. Equally, no-one can say that God would not be able to accept them. Jesus shows us the heart of God in this encounter – that though we are far from worthy, God’s grace and love can transform our lives. Once we accept God into our lives, our first act is of repentance. We are literally turning from the old life that was self-centred to walk a new path that is God-focused. Forgiveness is a means to transformation, not an excuse to continue in our old ways.
To Ponder:
- How do we respond to God’s grace? Is the Lord’s Prayer with its line "Forgive us our sins" a request to cover the past week, or do we seek to be new people by the grace of God?
Prayer
We pray that we our lives may be transformed by our encounter with God and that others, seeing the change in us, may seek God for themselves. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Mark Carrick
Mark is a presbyter in the Derbyshire North-East Circuit and is currently the minister of seven churches in the Chesterfield area. His passion is for ministry within the community and growing disciples within the Church. Mark has now served five years in the Methodist Church and is preparing to become Superintendent in September.