When Judgment Meets Grace

What did you expect when you came to church this week? A lecture? A guilt trip? A spiritual boost? We all walk into church with expectations—some based on past experiences, others rooted in fear or hope. But as Pastor Jeff Lane reminded us this Sunday, when we come to Jesus, what we receive may be something far more unexpected—and far more beautiful.

In John 8:1–11, a woman caught in adultery is dragged into the public eye by religious leaders who want Jesus to pass judgment. They weren’t interested in justice—they were interested in trapping Jesus. But instead of condemning the woman or playing into their hypocrisy, Jesus turned the tables. With stunning grace, He confronted the self-righteous crowd and offered forgiveness to the guilty.

This familiar but powerful moment teaches us three life-altering truths:

1. Jesus confronts hypocrisy – He doesn’t ignore sin, but He also doesn’t tolerate self-righteous judgment. His challenge, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone,” reminds us that true judgment must begin with humble self-examination.

2. Jesus forgives sin – When the accusers left, Jesus looked at the woman and said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on sin no more.” He didn’t excuse her actions—He offered her a new beginning.

3. Jesus restores the broken – Like the woman, we all have moments where we fear we’ve gone too far. But when exposed to the light of Christ, we don’t find shame—we find healing. Restoration begins where repentance and grace meet.

   
   

At Hope Church, we like to say: “You are more sinful than you think you are, but in Christ, you are more loved than you can imagine.” That’s the heart of this story. Our sin is real and destructive—but God’s mercy is deeper. And when we stop hiding, stop pretending, and step into the light of Jesus, we discover something surprising: freedom, healing, and a second chance.

So what should you expect when you come to Jesus?

Expect to be seen.

Expect to be forgiven.

Expect to be changed.

And expect to leave with a story of grace that only He could write.