Jesus, Our Constant Hero!

Back in January during our "Be Still and KNOW" series we mentioned this John 8 passage below which features Jesus, a woman caught in adultery, and a bunch of Pharisees and teachers of religious law who wished to catch Jesus in a trap regarding the law of Moses. It was during the "Nail" portion of the series and we used this passage to demonstrate how that Jesus in real time, even pre-Cross cancelled the handwriting of the records of wrong against this woman when He stooped down and wrote something in the dirt, twice. We know from Colossians 2:14-15 that that's exactly what God did for us when He cancelled our records of wrong against us by nailing them to His Son's Cross! Thank you Father! Thank you Jesus! As I was reading this John 8 passage again this week, I had to stop and ponder it again because it is just so great and breathtaking what Jesus did and who He is to us. Take a read of these eleven verses below:

'Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “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 8:1-11 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/JHN.8.1-11

The Word of God is timeless. Reading the account of the Woman caught in Adultery you would almost think that it could have played out right here and now in 2023 at a high school or a college or really any place where shame, sin and condemnation are present. Where there is humanity, scenes like these unfold, but what makes it feel so timeless and modern is the way in which Jesus does not judge the woman, but rather loves her and sets her free.

What feels modern about that? The love part, and the heroic part where Jesus stands between her and the angry religious mob; you can almost see it like in a film where the good guy steps in and the mob dissipates and everyone but the hero and the one in need are left in the scene. It looks like something we would write, because it is the yearning of the human heart, to be loved like that at our worst. Most films would leave it there and continue the story after Jesus says this part, "where are your accusers, do they condemn you? No? Neither do I."

But Jesus doesn't stop there, He says, "Go and sin no more." A Hollywood hero or heroine can only say I don't condemn you either, you're cool, but the Son of God is the only one that can say "go and sin no more." He is the only one that has the authority to set you so free by His Love, by His Acceptance and by His Word that you can actually go and sin no more! Changed because of grace and love, and not simply feeling approved of through non-judgmental language. Leaving someone the same who is in active pain and bondage to their sin is not love, just as condemnation is not love; but Jesus does so much more than what we can ever dream of, hope for, or imagine. He covers it all and covers all of us! He covers our best efforts and our most shameful moments. We are clothed and hidden in Christ Jesus as we stand before a loving Father who also says that we are not condemned and we are free to live our lives in the LIGHT!

We hope you will join us this month for community in Jesus and with one another! Community can happen remotely as well as in-person so if you are not local, or not able to be at an event physically, check out the remote options! I will share a few important announcements for March here before the March calendar:

-Pastor Stewy will be rolling out more and more opportunities this month as well as the coming months to get involved with outreach/evangelism efforts.

-When we get ready to do more light renovations in the church space like painting, putting up a partial wall, we will need volunteers so keep that in mind for March going into April (stay tuned).

-Last week of March will be a Sabbath Week because Holy Week (Palm Sunday - Easter) is the first week in April and we are putting a strong emphasis on Holy Week with a Holy Thursday Service, Good Friday Service and of course Resurrection Sunday!

-Please invite friends and family to Evergreen Church! We believe that God is doing something special among us and has SO MUCH MORE in store!

March 2023 Calendar:

March 1st - March 4th:

• Wednesday, 3/1, Prayer - 7 PM

March 5th - March 11th:

• Sunday, 3/5, Men's Bible Study - 9:45 AM

• Sunday, 3/5, Evergreen Service - 11 AM *Kids' Church Offered

• Wednesday, 3/8, Discovery Group - 6 PM End Times Study with Dinner

March 12th - March 18th:

• Sunday, 3/12, Men's Bible Study - 9:45 AM

• Sunday, 3/12, Evergreen Service - 11 AM (No Kids' Church - 6yrs+ with adults in main service)

• Wednesday, 3/15, Prayer - 7 PM

March 19th - March 25th:

• Sunday, 3/19, Men's Bible Study - 9:45 AM

• Sunday, 3/19, Evergreen Service - 11 AM *Kids' Church Offered

• Wednesday, 3/22, Discovery Group - 6 PM End Times Study with Snacks (Potluck style, bring something to share)

March 26th - April 1st:

• Sunday, 3/26, Men's Bible Study - 9:45 AM

• Sunday, 3/26, Evergreen Service - 11 AM (No Kids' Church - 6yrs+ with adults in main service)

• SABBATH WEEK: No Activities this week to prepare for Holy Week - following week in April

Love to all & keeping you in prayer!

Pastors Danielle & Stewy