Even though the earliest manuscripts & many other ancient witnesses don’t have John 7:53-8:11 in the body of their work, this story of the woman caught in adultery is a beautiful reminder of Jesus’ forgiveness & redemption…which is consistent with His Ministry during His time here on earth. The woman in this story was just a pawn for the Jewish Leaders to entrap Jesus with, but He challenged them by turning the tables & forcing them to examine their own sin-filled lives. In one sentence, Jesus effectively disqualified them all as judges to follow through with capital punishment. Their own consciences stinging with remorse & conviction…for they all knew they had no standing before God to carry out her execution…for not one of them was guiltless of sin. Or as Romans 2:1 exhorts, “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you the judge, practice the very things.” So after they had all walked away, the only sinless man that ever lived & by all rights had every authority to condemn this woman, didn’t. But neither did Jesus push her sinful life style under the carpet. With love, kindness & mercy Jesus told her to go, and leave her old life behind…which, not surprisingly, is something Jesus calls all of us to do.
Safetypinlove 