No more condemnation!

She had been caught. Now, she will have to face the consequences of her actions.

Where she lived, anyone caught with another woman’s husband was to be stoned to death. Stoned to death?! Yes.

These other group stood around her. They were supposed to be teachers of the law, showing people how to live an honorable life. But they were busy, looking for ways to accuse people. How did they even get this strong, undeniable evidence against her? They must have hired detectives to follow her every move…

Now, they are before the Judge, requiring justice to be done. They were waiting for a go-ahead to throw the first stone. “Say something”! they demanded from the Judge.

When the Judge did look up, He said something amazing: “If you have not sinned, throw the first stone”. They looked around at each other, with eyes questioning and wondering, “who will throw the first stone?”. But no stone was thrown. Their heart convicted them; they were all guilty as well. One by one, they left the woman and the Judge.

And then the Judge said to the woman, “You have been accused of adultery (extramarital affair), but I do not convict you. Go and sin no more”. She was free!

Jesus is the Judge. He alone has the right to declare us guilty or free. But if Jesus did not condemn that woman, He hasn’t condemned you either. He said in Luke 5:32, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance”. And in Luke 19:10, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost”.

But Jesus didn’t also give the woman a license to continue in sin. He said, “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). Jesus didn’t approve of her lifestyle. He asked her to repent and gave her a brand new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”. 

Sometimes, we find that we are guilty of sin and wonder if we can ever receive forgiveness. Of course, yes! God is waiting to forgive us if only we ask Him. The blood of Jesus is able to wash us. His grace can keep us away from sinful habits.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, Romans 3:23, and the very next verse, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (v 24)”. All have sinned, but Jesus expects us to take one step further: ask Him for forgiveness. That is only how we can be free from guilt and conviction.

(For the full story, please find a bible and read John 8: 1 – 12).