Where Jesus Erred – By Eliezer Gonzalez

Where Jesus Erred – by Eliezer Gonzalez

Feb 11, 2015 2110

I never cease to be amazed at shampoo advertisements on television. Have you seen those shampoo models, with every strand in hair perfectly in place? How do they do that?

Sometimes we can get the impression that Jesus was like a shampoo model – so perfect that as he whirled around and cleared the temple of the moneychangers and merchants, that his hair swished around beautifully, every strand of hair in place.

Let there be no question about it – Jesus was perfect. Who else has ever stumped his enemies with the question, “Who among you can show I’m guilty of sin?” (John 8:46).

But Jesus did err in one thing.

He always erred on the side of mercy, compassion in love.

It meant that he got messy with sinners, but never with sin. And that’s why he annoyed the religious leaders of his day so much.

Look at Christ staring down a crowd of religious people with the law and right on their side, as they square up to stone a woman caught in the act of adultery – a woman who was guilty as sin! The religious leaders thought that in this situation they had put Christ in an impossible situation, where whatever Jesus chose would be held against him. But Jesus still chose mercy! Jesus still chose love!

And Christ taught his followers to do the same. When he was asked what was the greatest commandment of all, Christ said,

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

You will often be faced with moral dilemmas between love and right, and mercy and justice – decisions that are never easy – it is always safest to err on the side of love, mercy and compassion. It is always safest to err on the side of Jesus.

– Eliezer Gonzalez

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