JOHN 8:8

It is not that she was innocent. It was not that He was compromising with her sins or sinful condition, but Jesus stood up for her because He realized that she was being a scapegoat and severely exploited by the self-righteous hypocrites who so wanted to point out her sins while completely ignoring and overlooking theirs. May God help us never to try and cover up sins in our own lives by highlighting and magnifying the sins of others. How quickly Jesus dismisses their false pride and hypocrisy by publicly declaring to the entire crowd of accusers: “… He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone” (v.8). They were seeking to justify themselves up by dehumanizing another human being. They sought to look good in the light of her pain and disgrace. Jesus found their stance and position totally indefensible!

The passage teaches it is never a good thing to be so quick to judge and condemn others, no matter how terrible their sins appear to be. May we understand that this gospel is not so much about condemning, as it is about trying to redeem, salvage, and reform. Neither is it about compromising God’s holy standards and requirements. To the woman taken in the very act of adultery, He ultimately declared, “Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more” (v.11). Let it never be lost upon us that we are delivered and exonerated from the awful chains of sin, not to continue any longer therein, but to freely and deliberately walk in the newness of life.

Divine forgiveness empowers us to see the gross magnitude and evil of sin. It empowers us to become realigned and reoriented with the Redeemer. It breaks the power of addiction. It gives us new vision. God’s work of grace enables us to see how crafty and deceptive the enemy is. The plan of the enemy is always only to break us, keep us broken, and finally bring us into shame and disgrace. However, just one encounter with Jesus changes the entire landscape of our lives. Jesus’ aim was not just to help this broken, defeated, defenseless woman of John 8, but also undoubtedly to help her accusers.

The next time we are tempted to accuse others and bring charges about them before the Lord and anybody, may the Redeemer help us to think twice and to first examine ourselves. Self-examination will really save us from a lot of embarrassment before we attempt in any way to embarrass others. His grace in us and to us should always cause us to walk in humility and compassion for others. It’s only by His grace that we have been rescued and redeemed. It should never be about showing up others. His word reminds us to first consider ourselves, lest we also be tempted (Galatians 6:1). Their sins or shortcomings could also be ours! Let us never be too quick to judge and condemn.

They wanted her stoned to death according to the Mosaic law, but Jesus hastened to illuminate them concerning their own sins and shortcomings, and how guilty they all were. Thank God they were honest enough to walk away. The passage so discreetly informs that they “…went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even to the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst . . .” (v. 8:9). They were convicted by their own conscience. Thank God they had a conscience. The aim should never be to condemn others, but to see our own lives in light of His holiness and grace.