Jesus Condemns Not

 

What could be more embarrassing than being caught in the act and being publicly paraded by a multitude. Yes, this woman had sinned, may be wilfully. She was caught in adultery, whereas the other person either escaped or was influential enough to avoid being brought to task. 

The mob was angry and raring to wield the authority of the law to condemn this poor soul and to kill her. They had the law of Moses on their side, each one carried a stone to cast on her. They wanted blood and they were authorised to get it.

They brought her to Jesus, not for his wise council, but to test his judgement and accuse him for his stance. Jesus knew her heart and theirs. He said "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." 

His words convicted the mob, they realised their sinfulness, dropped the stones quietly and walked away.  Then he looked up at her and asked "Has no one condemned you?". She replied, "No one, Lord". 

She would have been filled with trepidation, thinking "Yes, those men were sinful men. But Jesus was sinless and perfect, he had every right to condemn, to cast the stone". But Jesus said to her “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Jesus knows our sinfulness, he sees our heart and feels our aches and pains. He understands the loneliness when others cast the judgemental eye on us, when we are embarrassed, when we are cornered, when we are fighting the demons inside. He says "Neither do I condemn you". 

But it is not a license to continue in the sin, to take it easy or to say there is enough time, I will come to him later. He can search our hearts and our attitudes and thoughts are heard loud and clear in his presence! He says "Go and sin no more".  He willingly forgives us, for he loved us and paid the price for our sin. The condemnation fell on him, the stone was cast on him and he died in our place. Now having borne the punishment on our behalf, he gives us a clean slate, and says "Draw better this time".