She had been caught in the act of adultery. In the very act! She was dragged out in public for everyone to see.

According to the law, they could have stoned her. They brought the case to Jesus to test him.

He said: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).

One by one, they all left.

Grace opens doors. If the woman had been stoned to death, that would have been it. Gave over. Door closed. We don’t know much about her, but maybe she didn’t know God. She certainly had some amends to make.

By extending her grace, Jesus wasn’t condoning her actions. In fact, he told her to stop sinning in verse 11. But he gave her a second chance. She would have been able to learn more about God; to restore broken relationships; to learn more about the one who had just rescued her.

I think the same principle is at work in our own lives too. Grace opens doors. 

When we show people grace, we build trust… and have honest conversations… and provide help… and have the same attitude toward others that we would like them to have toward us.

Think about the people you are going to interact with today.

Grace opens doors.

---

Notes:

–“Grace opens doors.” Sermon. July 24, 2022. Click here.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.