Neither do I condemn you!

“When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’” (The Bible, John 8:10-11)
I love this story, known as the story of the “adulterous woman.” In fact, I find that it speaks more of Jesus’s tenderness than it does of a terrible sin. We can feel Jesus’s love in His words.

This woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. In Jesus’s time, the priests would have stoned this woman out of obedience to the law of Moses.

But Jesus brought an entirely other law. A new commandment. A new covenant…that of grace!

Jesus does not condemn this woman. On the contrary, He’s kind to her. He protects her from her accusers. He lifts her up. He affirms that God does not condemn her. He shows her that God loves her and empowers her with a second chance.

God loves you with the same love. He paid the price of His Son’s blood so that you would not be condemned. And when you fall, He lifts you up…yes, you too! He does not condemn you; rather, He stretches out His hand of grace and love to you.

When the enemy comes, rallying accusation against you, my friend, hear what Jesus is saying to you: “Where are your accusers? Neither do I condemn you.”

Be free of every accusation. You are free! Truly free!