Despite what the movies tell you, most criminals really aren’t that smart. I verified this truth on my first (and last) venture into the world of shoplifting at the tender age of 9 years old. Although I successfully walked out of the store with a box of the noisiest candy known to mankind in my pocket, I foolishly tried to sneak it past my mother. Big mistake.
The phrase “caught red-handed” most likely originated as a reference to someone having blood on their hands from murder or poaching. The first usage was in the Scottish Acts of Parliament of James I in 1432. It then began to pop up in Scottish legal proceedings in reference to a person who was caught in the act of a crime.
In John 8, the Pharisees confront Jesus with a woman allegedly “caught in the very act of committing adultery”. Would Jesus uphold the Mosaic Law, which required stoning her, or would he let her go and prove that he was not truly righteous? Jesus responds in a way that demonstrates both truth and grace without compromise to the woman, to the Pharisees, and to us today.
Like Jesus, my mother spoke truth into my young heart and made me go back to the clerk, confess my sin, and give the candy back. But she also reminded me of her love for me, God’s love for me, and that I wasn’t the kind of person who should steal. It was a painful but powerful lesson in grace and truth. (Please note that this passage has adult themes so you may need to plan on bringing your kids to our children’s ministry on Sunday or prepare them ahead of time for the topic.)
As you may already know, two of our beloved sisters in Christ have recently gone to be with the Lord. We’ll be holding a service for Rosemarie Sauter on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 pm and another for Anna Aseltine on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 2 pm. Both are at Valley Church and all are welcome to come and celebrate their lives.
In Christ,
Kurt