a portrait

of

jesus

A PORTRAIT OF JESUS -

His Words of Forgiveness and Grace

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you, “ Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

John 8:1-11

Finding Jesus, the Pharisees throw a woman caught in adultery at His feet. There is terror in the woman’s eyes…she knows the penalty for adultery and she feels the hatred of these men. They want blood, her blood, but more than hers, they want Jesus’ blood. They despise His compassion. All eyes are on Jesus, for the Pharisees are sure they have Him now and that He cannot escape from their trap. This woman was caught in “the very act” of adultery. The law demanded her stoning. But where was the man she was with? The Pharisees did not need him, perhaps they had set her up, but whatever the reason, they presented Jesus with only this woman and were sure they had Jesus this time; He must choose between compassion and the Law of Moses. If He chooses to show compassion, they would have grounds to bring Him before the Sanhedrin.

As they begin to pick up stones, Jesus says nothing; He does not enter into a debate, He simply stoops to write in the sand. Perhaps He writes the sins of those present; perhaps He writes the name of the man found in adultery who they let slip away. The Scriptures do not tell us what Jesus wrote, but whatever it was, it got a reaction. One by one the accusers drop their stones and leave; the older ones first and then the younger, until only Jesus and the woman are left. Alone now, Jesus again stoops down and writes in the sand…this time it is only for her eyes and when He rises, he asks her where her accusers are. Her response is there are none. Jesus then utters words of grace, words she never expected to hear ~ “neither do I condemn you, go now and leave your life of sin.” There is no lecture, no sermon, just words of grace that set her free and change her life. Jesus gives her the gift of forgiveness and His amazing grace ~ life-giving words that would echo in her heart all the days of her life. Words we have also heard when we’ve fallen, words that echo in our hearts ~ yours and mine. Gracious Words that enable us to go and sin no more and extend that same grace to those who sin against us. Thank you, Jesus, for your words of freedom and life.

D. Mathewson