Reflecting on John 8:1-11“‘Neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” (John 8:11)
Some people stress the first words Jesus says, ‘neither do I condemn you!’
Others stress the last words, ‘go now and leave your life of sin!’
Both need to be taken together, and in the order Jesus speaks them.
In my experience christians have reversed the order of these words:
‘Go and sin no more, and Jesus will not condemn you!’
Jesus is not commanding her to set herself free from the chains of sin.
Jesus has released her from her chains, and is inviting her to live into this freedom.
She was born into a world of sin and condemnation, and she was enduring a cursed life.
In a world where woman were used, abused and accused, sin and misery were all she knew.
But Jesus is the first person to see her as precious, a much-loved child of God.
The first word we need to hear is ‘neither do I condemn you!’
Unless we hear these words, we cannot enter a ‘life of love’.
If sin is the failure to love like God, grace brings us into a life of love.
Grace changes how we see and treat ourselves and others.
Jesus is inviting her, and us, into a different experience of life… a life of love!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, if this woman was told to stop sinning first, that would have condemned her to a life of misery and failure. You have set us free to live a life of love, without fear or condemnation. I welcome Your invitation to 'go and love some more!'