JOHN 8:2-11 – “Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.””

THEME OF THE DAY:  LIVING IN THE FREEDOM OF CHRIST’S FORGIVENESS.  Imagine how the woman caught in adultery felt BEFORE and AFTER our Lord talked to her.

First, BEFORE. The scribes and Pharisees brought the woman into the public arena and began to heap words of condemnation upon her to the Lord.  No doubt the weight of guilt, shame, and worthlessness laid heavy upon her heart as the self-righteous crowd showed no compassion or pity for her.  She was only a pawn, an instrument to be used by them to test Jesus.   As for the woman, we know nothing about her.  Maybe she just wanted to be loved and valued.  Maybe her upbringing lacked both and she gave herself over to be exploited by men so as to receive the attention she craved.  We don’t know, but we do know the cruelty and guilt of sin tormented her as it does every sinner outside of Christ.  But then Jesus speaks to her . . .

“Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Now imagine how she felt!  New life. New beginning. The freedom of forgiveness given by the words of Jesus, “Neither do I condemn you; go and from now on sin no more.”  Her guilt washed away.  Her past redeemed. A new creature in Christ.  No longer the woman caught in adultery but a daughter of the King.  She left the presence of Jesus not as she came, and the joy of being forgiven was now hers to enjoy and live from that moment throughout eternity.

As Christians, we too, have received the gift of God’s forgiveness, and like the woman caught in adultery, we are privileged to walk in the freedom of His forgiveness.  No more guilt. No more shame. No more regrets.  All is in the past and under the blood of our Redeemer.  This means the voices of accusation are lies. Whether they are from cruel people or the accuser himself, the devil, they no longer hold us in bondage.  When Jesus sets sinners free, they are free indeed.  May God help us to live in the freedom of Christ’s forgiveness!

PRAYER: Father, I praise You for forgiving me of all my sins – past, present, and future.

REFLECTION:  Jesus sets us free from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and soon, the presence of sin