Scripture
”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 8:10-11 NIV
Observation
The religious people brought Jesus a woman that was caught in adultery. According to the law of Moses, they should atone her.
Jesus answer to them was: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
In John 12:47 Jesus said:
“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
John 12:47 NIV
Jesus did not came to this world to condemn us because of our sins, but he came to save us from it.
This absence of condemnation is what empowers us to repent. Because Jesus does not condemn us, instead, he loves us, we are able to repent.
He tells us “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Application
Jesus speaks us in two different seasons in our lives:
- We as sinners: his absence of condemnation allows us to repent, to go and leave the life of sin behind us.
- We as church: if Jesus do not condemn people, why should we?
If our attitude towards others was like Jesus towards that woman, showing love instead of condemnation, our relationship with people would be better.
Every time I read this text, I wonder:
“What Jesus was writing on the sand?”
Prayer
Thank you Jesus for you don’t condemn me, but love me first and helps me to go and leave my sinful life behind. Help me to be gracious to others as you are gracious to me. In Your name, I pray.
