Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-11

One of God’s main policies in governing the universe is that he always gives us another chance. This  is what the prophet Isaiah tells us. Through him, God explains: “Remember not the events of the past… see, I am doing something new!” God is inviting his people to look to the future with hope. God reminds them that he has done wonders for his people in the past, and promises to do so again. It’s God’s policy to give his people another chance, to bring them back from exile even though they don’t really deserve it.

Jesus follows the same policy with the adulterous woman. Notice that he doesn’t ignore or excuse her sin – he acknowledges it and actually tells her to “go and sin no more.” But at the same time, he doesn’t condemn her. He gives her another chance.

Giving us another chance is one of God’s main policies. It’s called mercy.  It’s called forgiveness.  It’s called real love in a sinful, fallen world. The Pharisees wanted to destroy the sinful woman.  Jesus wanted to give her another chance.

This was Jesus’ mission. He came to earth to overcome sin and death with mercy and resurrection; to lead each one of us out of exile and into eternal life, just as God had led Israel out of Babylon and back to Jerusalem.

We are Christians.  We are Christ’s followers. We are Christ’s representatives in the world. If his mission was to give people another chance, then our mission has to be the same.