Scripture:
Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him 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?" ... Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground
with His finger, as though He did not hear ... He raised Himself up
and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him
throw a stone at her first." ... 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 ... 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 (selected)
Reflection:
I've always thought this was a total set up and all the accusers were
guilty of the same sin as the woman. Oh, she was guilty and she was,
indeed, a sinner. She knew it. Her guilt constantly reminded her of
that. What could she do now? She could never change what she had
done. She was condemned, condemned by her family, by society and by
herself. Now, she is brought before the purest, truly the holiest man
she had ever met. Her guilt just intensified. Her tears flowed out of
deep shame. This went far beyond any level of embarrassment or any
sense of conscience. She was unclean; Jesus was holy. She was
darkness; Jesus was pure light. She was condemned; Jesus was the
Judge.
But then she heard something she never expected to hear. "Neither
do I condemn you..." She heard a voice of compassion granting
forgiveness, cleansing, and mercy. Jesus is about forgiveness. The
cross is about forgiveness. Easter is about forgiveness. Jesus didn't
overlook or excuse her sin, he canceled her debt of sin. But then she
hear Jesus speak something else, "Go and sin no more." It
is out of his grace Jesus says, "Your sins are forgiven,"
but out of his holiness he commands, "Go and sin no more." Jesus speaks those same words to us.
Prayer:
Lord, we are so thankful for your forgiveness. May we never take it
for granted or presume upon it. Help us to never cast stones of
condemnation, instead may we be forgiving, as you are forgiving. May
we be willing to protect those who are in the line of fire of those
who want to throw stones of judgment. May we be ready to always offer
your grace to those who so desperately need it. And may your Holy Spirit help us who have been forgiven, to "go and
sin no more." Amen.
