By James G
“Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 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. 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.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
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. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:1-11
What was Jesus thinking? In order to understand this, it Is best to first find out Jesus mission and purpose: -To seek and save the lost -For He shall save His people from their sins -The Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.
Here, the adulterous woman was. Being mocked, accused, beaten, caught in the very act, guilty, condemned, standing before the Most Righteous.
Life can be very worthless when the sense of condemnation you feel is a product of an act that you are very guilty of. It would have felt more hopeful of a better day or a miracle, if you were innocent but yet accused.
But here she was before Christ, all guilty, all condemned. Ready, with head bowed in shame, regret, worthlessness, awaiting “the worst”. Her accusers too ready with stones in their hands to “the law” by stoning (condemning) her.
The very law that they themselves break. But our Lord Jesus does something. He bows Himself and writes inscriptions on the ground. We don’t know what He literally wrote there. The Bible never mentions it. But by Jesus’ reaction He displays or demonstrates why He had come: Pay for sins, take her place as the sacrificial Lamb for her errors. Unfortunately, the Pharisees never saw or understood it this way, so they couldn’t lay hold on it. Jesus had this in mind as He bent over right there: I am her substitute. That’s why I came. She is not to die, I am.
His response agreed with this because He confronted her accusers by giving them a taste of their own medicine, “Let he who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone (at her)”. He wasn’t denying that she was guilty (without Jesus, who isn’t?). But He was demonstrating that only the Perfect could perfect the imperfect. He still speaks on the defense of all who fall at His feet today. He replies her, “…neither do I condemn you (but because I am your substitute for your wrong), go and sin no more.”
John 8:11 (paraphrase mine). His mind said: Her Sacrifice, you. His Heart beat out: Love His response: a blank check to eternal life (after all they had all come to Him) but the Pharisees turned their backs on it and lost out. Who wouldn’t want to embrace a life where they can live freely being assured that their past no longer counts; knowing that someone had gone ahead to clear them all through the sacrifice of His own self and substitution on the Cross of redemption.
Who wouldn’t take this chance to begin life again? Well, only the man who calls it cheap and irrational, non-factual, unproven, unreal, dull, etc. I am convinced that someone out there is at a point where you want to have this same experience with this loving Savior. Someone is tired of the choking sense of worthlessness.
Every time I remember what Jesus came to do for me, the heavy bricks of guilt now feel like pieces of pop corn when thrown at one. Life is beautiful, the sun brighter, and the air fresher when I know I missed damnation because of the substitution of one Jesus.
I invite you to accept Jesus into your heart today by asking Him to come in and change you. Ask Him to cleanse you of your sins and to be established in your heart as Lord and Savior. Tell Him you believe in Him and are ready to walk with Him. Now walk in this knowledge and let God help you. Peace.-James G
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