John 1:14 [7:53-8:11]

It’s such a beautiful combination of virtues–to be both full of grace and full of truth.  Quite often we tend to err on one side or the other: either striving to be truthful we lack grace, or striving to be gracious we compromise the truth.  But in Jesus, John says, each of these virtues was expressed to perfection and each made the other richer, deeper, and more beautiful.  Though the story of the woman caught in adultery is not likely original to John’s gospel, many scholars agree it is likely historical and provides a much beloved illustration of these two attributes in action: grace (“neither do I condemn you”) and truth (“leave your life of sin”).  This is the gospel of the cross: as uncompromisingly honest about the ugly depths of our sin as it is incomprehensibly gracious in securing our redemption.