April 23 – The Adulterous Woman – John 8:1-11
Today we read of a woman that was caught in the act of adultery. The law stipulated that both parties were to be punished (Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22). The Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus for Him to condemn her or brake the law of Moses. Jesus did not answer immediately. Jesus appealed to their own consciences by stating that he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone. Beginning with the eldest, they all walked away. The adulterous woman shows a submissive spirit by staying by Jesus to await His judgment. Jesus tells her to go and sin no more. She received forgiveness as Jesus refuses to condemn her.
Jesus came to this earth to save sinners. Jesus was doing what He came here to do as He forgave this woman. Jesus would have loved to forgive the accusers as well, but they chose to walk away without repenting and asking forgiveness. The Pharisees walked away to continue to bare the guilt of their sin. Let us not walk away from Christ when faced with the guilt of our sin; instead, let us ask Jesus for the forgiveness that He desires to give us. Praise the Lord for I John 1:9!!
