Caught in the Very Act

I see myself in many of the people in scripture and there is good reason for this because the Bible is not only God’s story, but it’s about His relationship with mankind.  In other words, His drama involves us.  One person that I see myself in is the woman that was caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).  I may not have committed adultery, but I identify with this woman and here’s why:

When I am brought before Jesus, my accusers will be many.  Some of my accusers will be Christians, while others will not be.  Some of the accusations will come from not so noble people, while many of my accusers will have led much more honorable and purer lives than I have.  In either event, many of their accusations will be correct.


Some of the offenses that I’ve committed will be unintentional.  However, sometimes my actions will be deliberate.  My accusers will be quick to point out that I was caught in the very act.  My very own conscience will even testify against me and I will stand exposed before the LORD.

In John 8, Jesus seemed to be content to ignore the woman’s accusers, but because they persisted and insisted on a verdict on her, Jesus stood up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  We are then told that Jesus again stooped down and continued writing on the ground.  One by one the accusers left until only the woman and Jesus remained.

When Jesus spoke to the woman’s accusers, I hear Jesus asking them “Is anyone of you righteous?”  And when the accusers turned around to leave, I hear the scriptures declaring, “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10).

After the accusers left, the only two who remained were the sinner and the only righteous Judge of God.  Jesus stood up and asked the woman, “Where are your accusers?  Where are they that condemn you?”  The woman answered, “There’s no one, sir.”  Then Jesus said to her, “Then neither do I condemn you.”

When Jesus spoke those words, I have a strong suspicion that the woman did not hear what Jesus said next, which is, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”  And I don’t think it really mattered.  When she heard, “neither do I condemn you,” I have a strong hunch that she raced away from the scene with joy because I think that she understood that when the Son of God had set her free, she was free indeed (John 8:36).  The woman who heard Jesus’ words was a different woman from the one who had  been dragged into His presence.

Many people are familiar with John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.”  However, what follows is equally as precious.  In verses 17-18a, Jesus says:

God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.  Whoever believes in Him is not condemned . . .

What Jesus said is a commentary on what the woman experienced.  Everyone who believes Jesus shares the same reality.  Someone else who experienced this transformation declared,

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2).

I also find relief in what John says in I John 3:19-20.  I know that I’m taking what he said out of context, but in the context of what Jesus did on the cross I find his words quite appropriate.  John says:

This then is how . . . we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us.  For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.