Go and Sin No More
The angry mob threw the woman down to the ground, right at the Master’s feet. Bruises had already formed on her arms where they had grabbed her, and a trickle of blood was starting to flow from a cut on her cheek. “She’s an adulterer!” shouted one. Another screamed, “Let’s stone her!” as the crowd started to pick out stones, planning her execution. An elderly gentleman in a thick priestly robe stepped in and raised his hand, “Silence! Let’s hear what this man has to say. Jesus, we caught this woman right in the act of committing adultery. The law says that she should be stoned and killed; what do you say?”
The Master looked down at the woman, then surveyed the crowd that had gathered, a mixture of feelings such as anger, compassion, and hope stirring inside of Him. Rather than giving an eloquent speech, He stooped down and wrote something on the ground. When He stood up, Christ said, “He who has no sin, let him cast the first stone.” Ashamed by this revelation of their own sinfulness, each member of the crowd dropped their stones and left, leaving only Christ and the woman behind. Jesus asked the woman who was still condemning her, and she replied “No one, Lord.” Then Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more (John 8:11).”
This story reveals to us both the mercy and the righteousness of God. Mercy is the ultimate revelation of the character of God. He is not an angry despot, eagerly waiting to send people to hell, but is a loving God, rejoicing to show His mercy. In this story, the woman truly was guilty and thus deserved punishment under the law. Jesus was the only One who truly could have condemned her, for He was the only One who was without any hint of sin. Yet He chose not to condemn her and showered her with undeserved pardon, the mercy of God.
As a Christian, you are also a beneficiary of the mercy of God. Our sins meant that we deserved hell, eternal death. But in the mercy of God, He has forgiven our sins and made us partakers of His very own righteousness. Your salvation is completely based in the mercy of God. So let’s not walk in guilt over our past sins but remember that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22). His mercy and love are freely given to us.
But the story didn’t end with the woman being forgiven; she was then given hope that she could truly be changed. Jesus told her, “Go and sin no more,” and He gives us the same direction. The purpose of God’s grace and mercy is not just to forgive us our sins, but to change us so we do not walk in those same sins any more. He is a merciful God but is also a righteous God, who demands a holy people. If we habitually return to the same sins after God has forgiven us, we are using the mercy and grace of God in vain. Jesus gave this adulterous woman the hope and the commandment to walk in righteousness. A changed life is the evidence that we have truly received the mercy of God. Thank God that He is a merciful Savior. Trust in His mercy and know that He has forgiven you of your sins. And then, go forward, walking in righteousness and holiness. What a wonderful hope it is that we can “Go, and sin no more.”
The Master looked down at the woman, then surveyed the crowd that had gathered, a mixture of feelings such as anger, compassion, and hope stirring inside of Him. Rather than giving an eloquent speech, He stooped down and wrote something on the ground. When He stood up, Christ said, “He who has no sin, let him cast the first stone.” Ashamed by this revelation of their own sinfulness, each member of the crowd dropped their stones and left, leaving only Christ and the woman behind. Jesus asked the woman who was still condemning her, and she replied “No one, Lord.” Then Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more (John 8:11).”
This story reveals to us both the mercy and the righteousness of God. Mercy is the ultimate revelation of the character of God. He is not an angry despot, eagerly waiting to send people to hell, but is a loving God, rejoicing to show His mercy. In this story, the woman truly was guilty and thus deserved punishment under the law. Jesus was the only One who truly could have condemned her, for He was the only One who was without any hint of sin. Yet He chose not to condemn her and showered her with undeserved pardon, the mercy of God.
As a Christian, you are also a beneficiary of the mercy of God. Our sins meant that we deserved hell, eternal death. But in the mercy of God, He has forgiven our sins and made us partakers of His very own righteousness. Your salvation is completely based in the mercy of God. So let’s not walk in guilt over our past sins but remember that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22). His mercy and love are freely given to us.
But the story didn’t end with the woman being forgiven; she was then given hope that she could truly be changed. Jesus told her, “Go and sin no more,” and He gives us the same direction. The purpose of God’s grace and mercy is not just to forgive us our sins, but to change us so we do not walk in those same sins any more. He is a merciful God but is also a righteous God, who demands a holy people. If we habitually return to the same sins after God has forgiven us, we are using the mercy and grace of God in vain. Jesus gave this adulterous woman the hope and the commandment to walk in righteousness. A changed life is the evidence that we have truly received the mercy of God. Thank God that He is a merciful Savior. Trust in His mercy and know that He has forgiven you of your sins. And then, go forward, walking in righteousness and holiness. What a wonderful hope it is that we can “Go, and sin no more.”
posted by Cameron at 12:28 AM
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