John 8:11 "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."
This is such an amazing story to me! A woman caught in adultery, in the very act, was brought to Jesus. Let's think for a moment about what this scene must have been like.
The Pharisees brought this woman into the temple where Jesus was teaching. "Moses law states that this woman should be stoned to death....but what do YOU say?" they asked. They had already disregarded the law themselves, by arresting the woman without the man involved. The Law required that both parties in adultery be stoned. (Leviticus 20:10 and Deut.22:22). These leaders were using this woman as a trap...so that they could trick Jesus. If He said that she shouldn't be stoned, they would accuse Him of violating the law. If He told them to stone her, they would report Him to the Romans, who did not permit the Jews to carry out their own executions.
We see then that Jesus did not give a response to their question. Instead, He stooped down and wrote something on the ground with His finger. They were in the temple when this happened. From what I understand, the "ground" in the temple wasn't made of dirt. It was made of stone. And Who was it that wrote with their finger on stone (tablets)?
I don't know what Jesus is thinking here, but I wonder if He might be that He was remembering..that it was the finger of God (His own hand), that wrote the Law on stones..and that here He is now, being questioned about the Law. He then responds, "Ye who is without sin, cast the first stone." To me, this is one of the most amazing, wise, and even telling verses in all of scripture...and what it tells is of a God who forgives..a God who gives second chances..a God whose love for His children is deep, and with nothing held back. Jesus returns to writing on the ground...until one by one, the accusers leave.
When Jesus is left alone with this woman, He doesn't scold her. He doesn't ask her why she did what she did. He doesn't remind her of her sin. He doesn't in any way humiliate her. He simply says, "Where are thine accusers? Has no one condemned you?" She responds, "No one, Lord." He then says the words to this precious woman that just touch my heart in such a deep way as He speaks to her, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more." Why do those very words touch such a deep place in my heart? Maybe it's because I have dealt with sin in my own life.. Maybe it's because there have been times in my life that I have held on to pain..pain that God never meant for me to hold on to. Maybe it's because I have carried sorrow..sorrow that He had already carried for me..but somehow it just felt like the 'holy' thing to do. Maybe it's because I realize the enormity of what has been done for me...that because of Jesus, my sin has been dealt with...and that the heart of God is and always has been to forgive. I don't have to live in shame. I don't have to remind myself over and over about the thing I've done. I don't have to be crushed by guilt. My Savior loved me so much that while I was yet in sin, He gave His life for me. He gave His life for YOU.
This woman had committed a sin that according to law was punishable by death. Much of the purpose of the Law was to show people that they needed a Savior..to bring them to the end of themselves..and look where it brought her..into the presence of Jesus! When Jesus told the Pharisees that whoever among them was without sin, could cast the first stone, the Pharisees knew that they didn't qualify. They couldn't throw a stone at her because they weren't without sin. But there was a man there who WAS qualified..who WAS sinless..Jesus could have cast the first stone..but He chose not to!
He told her that He did not condemn her! He gave her a gift..the gift of not being condemned! He didn't tell her to stop sinning and then He wouldn't condemn her. He told her that He didn't condemn her..NOW..go and sin no more! Jesus does the same for us...and because of the finished work of Jesus at the cross, He has also taken away your guilt. He has removed your shame. He remembers your sin NO MORE. The gift of "no condemnation" gives YOU the power to sin no more. You have been given a gift. Now, just receive it. Trust the Giver. Hold it, and behold it..as you would do with anything treasured in your life.. And believe in His amazing love and gift to you!