Throwing Stones

Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him (Jesus) a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?"

This they said testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus has raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." John 8:2-11

This is such a good picture of Jesus. This woman was caught in the very ACT of sin! And Jesus did not condemn her, instead He told her to go and sin no more. Just like that she was forgiven. What a gracious King we serve! What Jesus is concerned about is us turning from sin. To no longer live the way we lived in the past  but to live for Him instead! When we have an encounter with Christ it changes us! Can you imagine being that woman?

Jesus knows everything about us, and still loves us, He knows every sin we've committed, every evil thought we've had and He still chooses to forgive us. Without Christ we are slaves to sin. John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits a sin is a slave to sin." But by the power of Christ in us, we can rise from sin and live a new life in Him! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

There is a difference between condemnation and conviction. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are faithful to convict of sin. We are all sinners, we all fall short of perfection. Jesus knew that and that's the purpose of His sacrifice, He died because when there is sin it must be atoned for. Just like the days of the Old Testament, people sacrificed sheep and pigeons. Sin must be atoned for. Jesus is the atonement for our sins. Something has to die to cover the cost of sin. He paid that price on the cross. I'm so glad we are under grace and aren't bound by the law. We do not have to have a blood sacrifice, because Jesus is the blood sacrifice. 

Condemnation on the other hand is from the enemy. The devil wants us to feel condemned and feel like there is no hope. "You're not good enough", "You will never change", "How can God love you", "There is no hope" these are lies from hell. There is hope in Jesus. You see Jesus meets us as we are! He's not asking us to get our lives together before we come to Him. He sees us in our broken state and has compassion on us.

God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died. Romans 5:8

A lot of times we feel the condemnation of others. A dear friend of mine was going through an intense trial. My heart broke for her. People that she cared for we're being hard on her. Not being as gracious as they should have been. I remember talking with her on the phone, just hearing the hurt in her voice. That's when I thought of this scripture. I spoke it to her. Jesus isn't condemning you. He wants to help. Others may condemn, but are they with out sin? No! We are all guilty. We are all sinners. Before you condemn someone else think about yourself. God was gracious to us, it is our duty to be gracious to others.

On the other hand sometimes the one who is condemning us is ourselves. Remember that if Jesus is able to forgive us of our sins without a question, then we should also. If He isn't condemning us, then why do we? He paid the price, He forgave us! Don't carry around a burden that Jesus already took. It doesn't make sense. But so often we do it. 

Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."