SET FREE

 

April 1, 2025

Letting go of the old to make room for resurrection and renewal.

This Week's Theme Bible Verse

John 12:24

“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, 

it remains only a single seed.

But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

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John 8:1-11

… Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”



In John 8, a woman caught in adultery and is brought before Jesus. Instead of condemning her, like her accusers wanted, He says, “Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” One by one, oldest to the youngest of her accusers leave. Did you notice what Jesus does? Jesus then offers her forgiveness and a chance to start fresh: “Go and sin no more.”

I wonder, have you ever felt the weight of your mistakes, like they might define you forever? What does it feel like to you, to imagine being truly forgiven? Slate wiped clean, the chance to start fresh.

This story in today’s reading, shows us something crucial, that dying to our old ways isn’t about shame, it’s about growth and stepping into the freedom and grace that Jesus offers. 

Is there a mistake or regret you’ve been carrying? Bring it to Jesus in prayer, today. The Bible tells us that we can trust Him to forgive us and show us how to live in the freedom of His grace.