Episode Transcript  

One

The Woman with a Bad Past Life

At daybreak in Jerusalem, Jesus appeared in the Temple. As the people gathered around Him, He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees brought before Him a woman caught in the act of adultery. Making her stand there in full view of everyone, they said, “Master, this woman was caught in the very act. The Law of Moses commands us to stone such women. What do You say?” They said this to test Him, looking for something to use against Him. But Jesus bent down and began writing on the ground with His finger. When they kept pressing Him, He looked up and said, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then He bent down and continued writing on the ground. One by one, beginning with the eldest, they walked away, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing there.

He looked up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she replied.

“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go now, and do not sin anymore.”

Two

Before

Most of us have a checkered past. One filled with sin, even grave sin. So, we’re not so different from the woman caught in adultery, are we? And like this woman, Jesus comes to us before we deserve His goodness. He meets us at our worst. Right when we need Him the most, He is there, offering mercy, ready to forgive, if we will receive it.

Jesus and Mary came into my life when I was far from good. In fact, they came when I was at my worst. And from that moment on, nothing has been the same. Every follower of Jesus has a not-so-great “before”: Peter, the impulsive fisherman. Matthew, the tax collector, Roman collaborator, and traitor to the Jewish nation. Mary Magdalene, possessed by seven demons. And the woman caught in adultery.

God calls us in our “before”, when we’re blind to how broken we really are. And He invites us into an amazing future. 

Three

Take Israel, for example.

We just finished walking through the Old Testament. The Jews had been so bad that their nation was destroyed, and they were taken captive and exiled to Babylon. That is precisely when God came to meet them through the prophet Isaiah, who told rebellious Israel, “I have called you by name; you are mine.” When he said that, Israel wasn’t faithful. They were resisting God, rejecting His love. But God didn’t turn away. He showed mercy. He spoke love over them. He claimed them before they ever agreed to be His.

He entered into their “before” and transformed their future. And the same is true for us. Our past choices cannot cancel God’s future for us. What we see in the mirror doesn’t define what God sees, or what His grace can do. Our brokenness doesn’t stop His plans. Neither do circumstances. Neither do other people. So, we have nothing to fear. And everything to hope for. 

Four

Every follower of Jesus has a “before.”

Everyone, except Mary and Joseph, has a checkered “before”… and a glorious “after.” Peter betrayed Jesus, then became the first Pope, and died for Christ. Matthew, the thieving tax collector, became an Apostle, a Gospel writer, and a martyr. Mary Magdalene, once filled with demons, was the first witness to the Resurrection and later brought the Gospel to France.

Jesus is not hung up on your “before.” What He cares about is now. Where is your heart now? Do you want to become all that God created you to be?

Five

Fear not. You are not what you were.

Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you about your sins. Dig deep, look hard, be more honest, and then go to Confession. 

If you enjoyed this meditation, subscribe below.