From the conflict in John 8:2-11 when the Pharisees and scribes brought a woman caught committing adultery to Jesus, we can learn how to resolve conflicts when the mediator is one of the conflicting parties.
The first party in this conflict was the group of Pharisees and scribes. The second party was the woman since she was caught contravening the Law of Moses that the Pharisees and scribes advocated and enforced.
Jesus became the third party of this conflict when the Pharisees brought the woman and the conflict to Him.
The Pharisees then bestowed on Him the unenviable role of a Mediating Conflictor when, to paraphrase their words they asked Him, “According to the Law of Moses, this woman should be stoned because of committing adultery. But, what do you say about this issue?”
Jesus’s role was therefore not strictly a mediator’s role for the Pharisees “But” suggested that they suspected that His opinion would conflict with theirs and that was why they were testing him by bringing this woman to Him so that they might have something to accuse Him of.
If you find yourself in a similar tricky role of a Mediating Conflictor, emulate Jesus and arbitrate by suggesting a solution that advocates your position without battering the other parties.
Copy Jesus, who by declaring that the first stone should be thrown by the person who had never sinned, stood up for His teachings on love and mercy as well as saved the woman's life without breaking the Law of Moses that the Pharisees prescribed.
Therefore, learn to assert yourself without upsetting others so that you can resolve tricky conflicts effectively and increase the peace in your home, the productivity of your ministry and the profitability of your business.
Adapted from Resolving Conflicts just like Jesus Christ by Dr. Miriam Kinai © 2010 For more information click here.
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