Regional Impact

Free and Free Indeed

Ioften empathise with the story of the woman caught in adultery from the Bible.

This is not because I have been unfaithful to my husband (I’m not married!) but because I can relate to getting yourself into a tangled mess – and having Jesus unravel that mess with one touch.

If you are not familiar with how the account goes, here is an overview:

A woman is caught in the act of adultery and is dragged into the centre of the temple by some Pharisees to be held to account. The Pharisees accuse the woman of her crime and recount to Jesus the appropriate part of the law of Moses for such a crime, stoning.

But there was a twist.

The Pharisees most likely had little concern for the woman nor her crime but were trying to trap Jesus into giving a false verdict so that they would have evidence to accuse Him.

Jesus, likely knowing their thoughts and motivations, simply stoops and begins to write in the ground with His finger. Interestingly, we’re not told what He is writing. After being pressed by the Pharisees for a verdict on the matter, Jesus says a beautiful and freeing sentence that reveals the nature of His heart. ‘The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7 CSB) Jesus then returns to writing in the dust with His finger. One by one the men surrounding the woman leave without casting a single stone. Jesus then encourages the woman to go and leave her life of sin.

How wonderful.

To me, this is the essence of the beauty and power of the Gospel. Jesus – as holy and perfect as He is – had every right to condemn the woman yet, of all the people surrounding the woman, He was the one to release her.

The Bible tells us that if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36). Some translations say that you will be truly free, or really free. The sentiment being that if Jesus frees you, you will experience freedom in all its fullness. Have you ever committed a sin that you felt was too far gone for you to be forgiven? Imagine being caught in that act, dragged before a judge only to be told that you have been pardoned of your sin and encouraged not to repeat the sin that entangled you. Think of the overwhelming relief you would feel! The Gospel has the power to break every chain that binds you. The Bible tells us, ‘So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.’ (Galatians 5:1 NLT)

When we receive our freedom, we should not use that pardon as an excuse to continue in our sin but as a release to not be tied to our sinful behaviour anymore.

It was the law that condemned the woman caught in adultery, but it was the grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that set her free. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfil it (see Matthew 5:17). Jesus came to present the Gospel which, if anything, demands more of us.

We are told in the law that we are not to murder. Jesus demands that if we are even angry with a brother or sister, we are subject to judgement. Similarly, we are told in the law not to commit adultery, but the Gospel that Jesus brought tells us that if we even look with lust upon another, we have already committed sin with them in our hearts.

The Gospel demands more of us than the law ever did but in the most beautiful way. It encourages us to pursue holiness with the added grace that if we fall short, we are not condemned, we are forgiven.

Why not read the account of the woman caught in adultery for yourself –it can be found in John 8:2–11. Allow the scene to unfold in your mind and, if you can, cast yourself as the woman. Feel the fear of her predicament then encounter the relief of Jesus’s words – “Neither do I condemn you.”

If you are struggling with sin, know this: the One who loves you most is the One who is able to set you free. And once freed, you will know true freedom.

To me, this is the essence of the beauty and power of the Gospel. Jesus – as holy and perfect as He is – had every right to condemn the woman yet, of all the people surrounding the woman, He was the one to release her.

Charmain Hibberd

Creative Media Assistant

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Hope in the Hopelessness

We at CBN’s Orphan’s Promise, like so many of you, have shed tears over the last month and a half at what we have seen and heard. But God is still at work, friends!

When the darkness seems at its greatest, we know that there is a light that shines even brighter.

In spite of the circumstances faced by the people of Ukraine, we continue to hear stories of God breaking through in miraculous ways, answers to prayer and salvation in the midst of the chaos. We see people being fed through projects still operational within Ukraine. Fifteen of our nineteen training centres have remained open and have welcomed those travelling with hot food, basic medical requirements and a safe place to rest.

A little while ago, you may have seen the opening of a training centre in Khust, Western Ukraine. Whilst much of the work here had to be paused, the centre continues to serve the local community. With the obvious disruption to work for many of the families, finances were stretched thin and many of the community were struggling.

Now, not only are the children within the project provided with lunches but other families from the wider community are being fed every day as well. One unique feature of the centre in Khust is a small quail farm, established as part of our SEED program, which is proving to be an invaluable resource at the moment. Every week, quail meat and eggs are delivered to our centres for the refugee families passing through.

Thank you for your continued support. Every step, however small it may feel, makes a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve!

Want To Read More Stories?

Visit cbneurope.com/impact to read more inspiring stories about how God has used CBN across the globe.

Changing a Young Girl’s Life

Nine-year-old Shiloh in South Africa was intrigued when her mother introduced her to Superbook after seeing an advertisement on The 700 Club. Shiloh was soon hooked and couldn’t stop watching.

As a surprise, her mother blessed her with a DVD combo of Superbook episodes.

Shiloh received Christ and even got baptised. Her mother raved about the impact that Superbook has had on her life. The love and support of global CBN partners are making an eternal difference to children and families worldwide.

Shiloh says that she and her mother are “Superbook fans” and that they love to “tell others to watch it too!”

provisions and so are left on the fringes.

Fariah Finds a New Beginning

Fariha fled from the war in Syria to Lebanon. One of 7 siblings, she and her family live in a single room with no windows and sewage leaking from the ceiling. Many children cannot attend state-run educational

The H.O.P.E. Educational program is a non-formal educational provision that specifically reaches out to the refugee community. Children receive lessons in math, English, Arabic, computers and other basic skills. There is also an incredible open door to share the Gospel and learn Biblical principles!

Through this project Fariha has grown socially, academically and spiritually. Her family said she has “changed a lot for the better.”