Scripture

Our verse for today comes from John 8:9, “Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest to the last.”

Background

Telemachus was a monk in Asia. In the early fifth century, God led him to Rome for no apparent reason. And being in Rome, he did as they did, and went to the Coliseum. But to his horror, what was on display was the battle to the death between gladiators, and all for the sport and entertainment of the crowd. Seeing this abomination, Telemachus himself went down into the arena to stop this abhorrent spectacle. But the crowd, which initially thought Telemachus was part of the show, soon became indignant when they realized that he was sincere in his attempts to stop the fight, hearing him call out, “In the name of Christ, forbear!” And being so moved to fury, the number of them stoned Telemachus there on the arena floor. Only days later, the purpose of God’s leading of Telemachus to Rome was made known, for the Emperor, moved by the grandness and grotesqueness of that day, put an end to these games for all time.

Application

The Pharisees brought the grotesque with them as they approached Jesus with a woman fresh from the bed of adultery. But Jesus countered them with the grandness of grace and forgiveness. And as powerful an effect as that had on the woman, whose life was perhaps changed forevermore, let’s not forget that the accusers were convicted and walked away undone. They heard a message from Jesus that changed their course of action. Their hearts may not have been immediately reborn, but Jesus loved them no less and offered them no less than he offered the woman. Sure, the Pharisees were probably only ashamed for a little while, but that doesn’t mean that God didn’t seek them. There isn’t a bloody gladiator or a venomous crowd or a self-righteous accuser that is beyond God’s amazing grace. It is only when we constrict it and put conditions on it that His grace gets watered down and loses its salt. Telemachus couldn’t sit idly by, even for the sake of faceless gladiators or facing the wrath of the crowd. Sounds a little bit like Someone who ended up on a cross.

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask God to show you if there’s someone who hasn’t quite qualified for your grace as of yet. Determine that you won’t be the bottleneck on God’s grace.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words