Condemnation

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Scripture

Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”
(John 8:10 NASB)
She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]
(John 8:11 NASB)

Observation

It was easy for the officials to point their finger at a woman who had been caught in adultery. She looked like the type of person you would expect to be a sinner! They gathered around her and were ready to stone her when Jesus said something very simple. The ones who have not sinned may throw the stones. Suddenly on self examination they discovered they were just as sinful as this woman. One by one they left and she was alone, standing before her Saviour. He asked where they had gone and whether no one had condemned her. No one had remained. Now Jesus, the only one who was without sin stood before her and forgave her. He did not punish her. He gave her a new life in a moment and sent her out to live in the world to sin no more. In that moment in time he restored her into the woman that God had originally intended, her life was set right and as long as she kept her eyes on God, He would lead her into a life without sin. This was the love which reached out to her from the only man who would have had the right to condemn her.

Application

Are we ever guilty of condemnation? Do we judge others by the fact that they look like sinners and their sin may be more visible than ours? We must search our hearts and ask God to reveal to us what exists within our own hearts before we start throwing stones at others. Instead, we are asked to be Jesus to our world. Jesus came into the world to be redemptive, not punitive. That should be our role as well. We are to be agents of redemption to a sinful world. Too often we want to take the punitive role, desiring to punish those who have done wrong. That is not our responsibility. We must remember on a daily basis that our job is to be Jesus in the world, and to respond to a lost world in the same way Jesus would respond. May those around us find no condemnation in us, but rather an outstretched hand of restoration, welcoming them back onto the original path that God has prepared for all of us.

Prayer

May I have a heart of compassion and redemption for the world around me today. Amen.

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