There is an interesting incident from the life of Jesus in the chapter eight of Gospel according to John. This incident carries in it something important regarding our relationship with the Lord. Let us go to the Scripture to read the incident.
"But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 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.” (verses 1-11)
The issue was serious. Sin of man is not a light issue. Traditionally, the laws in the Old Testament as well as other historical governments ensured that the criminal was dealt with very harshly. "Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth," has been a common approach in human history. Some punishments went to the extent of chopping the hands of a thief, burning people alive, life imprisonment and capital punishment etc. This is society's way of expressing that there is need to deal with the issue of sin. In the modern world we are learning to dilute the definitions. Sin is not a popular word anymore. We like calling it easier names like mistake, weakness, failure etc.
However, what we do not realise is that the effects of sin are internally as serious as ever, even if outwardly we can dilute the outcomes. Sin causes guilty conscience. Sin leads to insecurity. Also, it results into fear and shame. Sin leads to broken fellowship from God. Sin eventually leads to physical death. Furthermore, sin leads to eternal punishment in hell. These legalistic self-righteous people were technically correct. The woman had sinned. Our conscience is also not wrong. We have sinned too.
However, Jesus had a solution for this woman. He also has solution for every sinner on the face of the earth. No man has a right to condemn anyone. Only God has that right. God has never sinned. Even the best of the men are still sinners themselves. But, God took another approach towards humanity's sins. He chose to bear the condemnation Himself on the Cross. Jesus paid the price which we needed to pay. He has prepared a way for every sinner to be forgiven - by believing on the One who paid the price. That is why Jesus Christ became man and went to the Cross. Now he asks the question to that woman, "Where are they?" They were already gone. The condemnation is gone. The work of forgiveness is total. So, God doesn't count us guilty anymore. We can now live in a cleansed conscience. We are totally accepted in the beloved Christ. The Bible says that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). So, Jesus says, "I do not condemn you."
Then He says to the woman, "Go..." Similarly, He said to His disciples before ascending to heaven, "Go into all the world," (Matthew 28:18). Once you believe in Christ, you can have a new relationship with God. Now you can now live in a new vision and purpose. You do not need to live life as if it is an accident. Instead, you are here in this world to accomplish something which is ordained by God for you. You are going somewhere.
Later in that chapter in verse 21, Jesus said, “I am going away, and you will seek me.." He called Himself 'the light of the world.' He invited all of us to follow Him. He made a promise that He is going to be with us all of our life. Jesus went to heaven and promised that He will come back to take us there. Until then, He walks with us. He lives through us - He answers our prayers - He speaks into our hearts - He teaches us - He imparts us wisdom - He carries us when we fall - He leads us - He is our friend and He is taking us forward, wherever we are in our life.
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