January 23
“The scribes and Pharisees brought to (Jesus) a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up, and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more,’” John 8:3-11.
Early one morning, Jesus came to the Temple to teach the people as He normally did. As usual, a large crowd gathered to hear Him teach. Also as usual, the scribes and Pharisees – who hated Jesus and rejected Him as the Son of God and the promised Savior – were in the crowd, looking for an opportunity to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong. They hoped to discredit His good reputation among His followers.
They brought before Jesus a woman who had been caught in the very act of adultery. They reminded Jesus that the law of Moses stated that such a person should be stoned, and they asked Jesus, “What do You say?” Jesus stooped down and wrote with His finger on the ground, and He acted as if He did not hear them. However, they kept on asking. After a while, Jesus sat up and said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Then He stooped down and wrote on the ground again. Convicted by a guilty conscience, they began leaving, until they were all gone. Then Jesus was alone with the woman. He sat up and asked, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Jesus was fulfilling the words that He had spoken earlier: “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved,” John 3:17. Jesus’ words convicted all the self-righteous people of their sins. The woman felt her guilt and shame and she stood before Jesus hoping for mercy. That is what she received – mercy and forgiveness. Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you!”
Like that woman, each of us stands before Jesus, waiting to hear Him say, “Neither do I condemn you!” He came to seek and save us. He suffered and died on the cross to take our sins away. We are forgiven. By believing in Him as God’s Son and our Savior, we make that forgiveness our very own. When we believe in Him, we heed His word, “Go and sin no more!” As true, penitent, believing sinners, we change our way of life. We go our way rejoicing in our salvation, and witnessing to others that Jesus is their Savior also. Be comforted; Jesus receives sinners!
Jesus sinners doth receive; Oh, may all this saying ponder,
Who in sin’s delusions live, And from God and heaven wander!
Here is hope for all who grieve – Jesus sinners doth receive. Amen.