John 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
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Adultery was an offense that was punishable by death in the early Jewish Law. Imagine that – being stoned to death for making a mistake. The death penalty today is a highly-contested matter and, while it was still a subject of debate back in Jesus’ time, folks back then were often killed for much lesser crimes. Even Pontius Pilate asked the Jews why Jesus was deserving of death for claiming His Divinity and Festus called upon King Agrippa to hear Paul when the Jews called for his death. But, here’s the Spiritual “Rub” to all of the world’s claims against any of us. We can never be condemned from Eternity by anyone or anything in this world. Just like the Adulteress in John 8, when we come before Jesus, our accusers will not have a say in where we spend our Eternity. Only God does and Jesus is our Good Advocate. We are God’s Children (John 1:12) and Christ’s Friend (John 15:5). By Jesus’s Blood, we have been justified (Romans 5:1) and now belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19,20) being united with the Lord as one Spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). We are now members of Christ’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:27); we are Saints and Holy (Ephesians 1:1). We are adopted by Christ (Ephesians 1:5) and now have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18). The bottom line here is that we have been redeemed and forgiven of all of our sins (Colossians 1:14); we are 100% complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10) and need nothing more than Him. And, like the Adulteress, we are free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1,2); no matter what condemning charges are EVER brought against us (Romans 8:31-34). We can NEVER be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39) as we have been established, anointed, and sealed by Him (2 Corinthians 1:21,22). So, let’s live like the Citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20) that we already are and let Jesus shelter us in God (Colossians 3:3). Any one of us can find grace and mercy (Hebrews 4:16) and the evil one cannot touch us (1 John 5:18); no matter how bad or how much we sin. Then, being Invincible in Christ, let’s live like the impenetrable castles (temples) of God (1 Corinthians 3:16) that we really are. He’s already won the battle!
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