Neither Do I Condemn

This morning the verses for reflection are from John 8:3-11 NIV:

[3] "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group [4] and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. [5] In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” [6] They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.

[7] When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” [8] Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. [9] At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. [10] Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

[11] “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

I have always been intrigued by this story, as the situation was such a dangerous one for the Lord. As I think about it this morning, I can see the hand of Satan all over this trap, trying to accuse the God of being an angry, punishing God, trying to force Jesus' hand to either negate the law of Moses or to standby and let this women be killed, and thus have blood on His hands. He did neither, and instead turned the question back on the accusers and they all left the scene - it was a brilliant, if nothing else, tactic.

More importantly, it was about the life and salvation of the woman. I think about another verse from John 3:17 where Jesus says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Jesus was demonstrating that truth here, not condemning her but saving her. He will judge all men, but this was not the time. Her life, like the life of every sinner, could still be redeemed, and she could repent and be saved. That was His invitation to her, and although we have no proof in scripture that she did repent and leave her life of sin, I certainly believe she did, for she had encountered the Son of God.

I am so encouraged by the mercy of God, by His individual care and concern, by His forgiveness and compassion, and by the fact that He took upon Himself, as Jesus, my sins, and paid for them all with His blood. In this case as well, He paid for her sin, and this helps to put a face on the sin and the payment required. Her punishment would have been stoning, a brutal and bloody way to die, and Jesus paid with His blood on the cross.

This payment and punishment is described in Isaiah 53:5-6 NIV:

[5] "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. [6] We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

And again in Colossians 2:13-14 NIV:

[13] "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, [14] having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross."

So, let us be grateful this day, for the forgiveness and mercy of God, for we had all gone astray, and every day we need His new mercies. Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV: [22] "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. [23] They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Amen!