Christ And The Harlot - Page 2 of 2

Christ And The Harlot - Page 2

My experience has been that some LDS seem to have problem with Jesus being so forgiving. (from your quote Pres. Kimball does.) Many LDS that I have discussed this with seem to like to say something to the effect that she is not really forgiven, but make up other reasons why Jesus said what he did. I think we (me included) tend to make God less merciful then he is. I think at times we are the ones demanding the punishment for sin because it offends us more then it offended God. This seems to be the case in this story. It is really the Pharisees that are offended and demanding the punishment in the name of God, while God himself sits there and simply forgives. To me this story is an eye opener because here we actually have man and God reacting to sin. I am always amazed how it is not God that is very offended and demanding punishment and death, but rather man who is. John really puts god on the other camp from the pharisees. I just think that if we honestly look at this story it will make us feel uncomfortable, and many do not like what it says about us and God. I think that sometimes we tend to measure our holiness by our since of offense to sin, and by excluding more and more from our circle of holiness.

Anyway I would be interested to see how others see this story and feel about Jesus simply forgiving her.