Daily Bread 2011 - John 8
Daily Bread 2011 – John 8
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.”
What Does This Mean?
We see another encounter of Jesus with a sinner, this time it was the woman caught in adultery. According to the Law in Deuteronomy 22, both a woman caught in adultery and the man must be put to death, and a promiscuous woman must be put to death by stoning. The Pharisees again try to put Jesus in a trap. If he is merciful to her, he would not be abiding by the Torah (Law). They had a feeling he would be, so they tried to use this against him.
But instead Jesus asks a rhetorical question, “Which one of you is without sin? If you are, throw the first stone." They all started to go away, starting with the elders, who would be most aware of their sinfulness. This left Jesus and the woman. I’m sure she wondered what was next. Jesus asks her where her accusers are, and when there is no one left but the one without sin, he exclaims, “Has no one condemned you, then neither do I.”
Then Jesus says something very important, “Go now and leave your life of sin”, also translated, “Go and sin no more”. The woman was set free by the guiltless one, but with a challenge to use her freedom to not continue in her old ways but start a new life.
What Does This Mean For Us?
This is a wonderful story, reminding us that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but save it. This is the verse right after the famous John 3:16. But as we are saved, we are given a purpose to live out our new life and not return to patterns of the past. Of course we will still struggle in our sin until we die, but there is difference with struggling with sin and returning to a life to it.
But the impetus to begin a new life starts with our encounter with Jesus who comes to us and says, “Where are your accusers. Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more!” A new life in Christ is always started by an encounter with His amazing grace in the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, and He has set us free to really live.
Heavenly Father we thank you for your grace which is in Christ Jesus. Help us to live lives set free by experiencing Your grace like this woman did. When we are tempted to return to a sinful pattern, remind of Jesus’ words to this woman, “Go and sin no more”. Amen.
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.”
What Does This Mean?
We see another encounter of Jesus with a sinner, this time it was the woman caught in adultery. According to the Law in Deuteronomy 22, both a woman caught in adultery and the man must be put to death, and a promiscuous woman must be put to death by stoning. The Pharisees again try to put Jesus in a trap. If he is merciful to her, he would not be abiding by the Torah (Law). They had a feeling he would be, so they tried to use this against him.
But instead Jesus asks a rhetorical question, “Which one of you is without sin? If you are, throw the first stone." They all started to go away, starting with the elders, who would be most aware of their sinfulness. This left Jesus and the woman. I’m sure she wondered what was next. Jesus asks her where her accusers are, and when there is no one left but the one without sin, he exclaims, “Has no one condemned you, then neither do I.”
Then Jesus says something very important, “Go now and leave your life of sin”, also translated, “Go and sin no more”. The woman was set free by the guiltless one, but with a challenge to use her freedom to not continue in her old ways but start a new life.
What Does This Mean For Us?
This is a wonderful story, reminding us that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but save it. This is the verse right after the famous John 3:16. But as we are saved, we are given a purpose to live out our new life and not return to patterns of the past. Of course we will still struggle in our sin until we die, but there is difference with struggling with sin and returning to a life to it.
But the impetus to begin a new life starts with our encounter with Jesus who comes to us and says, “Where are your accusers. Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more!” A new life in Christ is always started by an encounter with His amazing grace in the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, and He has set us free to really live.
Heavenly Father we thank you for your grace which is in Christ Jesus. Help us to live lives set free by experiencing Your grace like this woman did. When we are tempted to return to a sinful pattern, remind of Jesus’ words to this woman, “Go and sin no more”. Amen.
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