Christ Came to Pardon You

John 8:10-11

10 When Jesus had lifted himself up, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.

Ever get caught in the midst of doing something that is both sinful and pleasurable? Like a child sneaking a cookie from the cookie jar before dinner, you may have been caught red handed with crumbs on your face and the remnants in your hand. Or perhaps like this woman you were caught entangled in an illicit affair with someone other than your spouse. Regardless of what it was, the evidence against you was indisputable and undeniable. You were guilty as charged.

Did this woman know what her punishment would be if caught in the act? Was she even one that professed to uphold the laws? The text doesn't say. But whether this woman knew it or not, I believe it is safe to say that most people are tempted at one time or another and sometimes the need to satisfy ourselves with the object of our desire overshadows good and righteous judgement. Though faced with the prospect of great retribution we still risk all.

In this woman's situation the law of Moses required that she be stoned to death (Deut. 17:7). So we find her brought before Jesus by the teachers of the law and the high priest. I found it quite interesting that this woman was brought before Christ alone. Did you?

As the saying goes, "It takes two to tango". But clearly in the preceding verses we learn that she is the only one brought before him for judgement. She is the only one about to take the fall.

Have you ever found yourself taking the fall alone, knowing good and well that there were one, two or three other participants that should be standing on the chopping block with you? But, looking around, you found yourself alone. Maybe it was because of their gender, ethnicity, class or some other affiliation, they were given a pardon and you were left alone to suffer the consequences. What ever the reason maybe, in that moment you learned that justice in the hands of man isn't always fair. Especially when your accusers have other ulterior motives driving them.

If you read the previous text, you learn that the religious teachers and preachers of the law were testing Jesus. They wanted to see if he would go against the law so, that they could defame him and put an end to his ministry. It was never really about the woman.

But thanks be to God that, we have a Father that loves us and loves us all equally. He is no respecter of persons. Thank God that He had a plan for our salvation through Jesus Christ. In spite of their agenda, they couldn't have brought this woman before a better judge.

Why, might you ask?

First, Christ came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it (Matt 5:17). Throughout the new testament and even at the beginning of this chapter we find Jesus teaching in the synagogue. He came to bring the world into knowledge of it's sin. You will notice that he never denies the fact that she is guilty. Instead he says to them, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.(John 8:7)"

With the fall of Adam and Eve, we learned that the penalty for sin is death. These words that Christ spoke are quite convicting. All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and it is therefore appointed unto every man a time to die and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Knowing in their hearts that by birth alone they were born into sin and shaped in iniquity they were unfit to judge her.


Secondly he didn't come just to fulfill the law but, he came to fulfill the will of God the Father. In John 6:38 He says "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." Oh what power lies in this when we know the will of the Father.

What is the will of the Father and how did it shine forth in the life of this woman? For the answer I look to John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The will of the father is for us to live. As guilty as we may be he wants us to live and not die.

This woman was guilty. She was to be stoned to death under the penalty of the law but, in this moment Christ is not acting as the judge. His first mission was to bring the glad tidings to the world and the gospel message of salvation. In this moment we see Christ fulfilling the will of God to pardon her of her sin so that she might live.

Looking around and seeing that all of her accusers have gone, he says to her "Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?" She answered, "No man Lord." And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more."

Can you see the relief that must have ran across her face? Her sin has been pardoned. Imagine the calm assurance of a small child, standing there with crumbs in hand, smiling as their loving parent says "I'm not going to hit you. Just don't do it again."

Do you need to be pardoned for your sin? Look to the one that is willing and waiting to do just that. Look to Christ. When the world accuses you and seeks to slay you, He will say to you, Neither do I condemn you.