The smug religious leaders had Jesus trapped. In the Temple, in front of a crowd, they tested His devotion to the Law of Moses in this life or death showdown. Her protesting screams disrupt the morning lesson. They push through the listeners dragging the scantily clad woman to the front.  She is guilty, caught in the act of adultery. Don’t be distracted by the absence of the adulterous man. That’s a different story.

Every person present knows the law. She must be stoned. Eyes shift from the woman to Jesus, from the woman to Jesus, silence but for the woman’s whimper and a finger scraping in the sand. How long is this tense silence? What does Jesus write? What are the onlookers thinking?

What are you going to do now Jesus?

Every person present knows the law. She must be stoned. Their demand for an answer overpowers the woman’s whimper. Eyes shift from the leaders to Jesus, from the leaders to Jesus, the woman just the bait in their trap. Voices rise with impatience while His finger scrapes the sand. For how long? What does Jesus write?

Jesus rises with His judgment:

All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!
John 8:7

Again, Jesus stoops to write. What? We can only guess.

The accusers’ eyes drop to the ground. Shoulders slump. Speechless. Deflated. Defeated. And one by one they slip away leaving Jesus and the woman surrounded by the crowd. Jesus’ temple audience will likely never forget this lesson. But there’s another lesson (or two).

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
John 8:10-11

Go and sin no more.

Jesus spares the woman’s life, but tells her to “leave your life of sin.” Read the full story in John 8.

In your mind’s eye, how does Jesus deliver this instruction? What emotion do you hear in Jesus’ voice? Condemnation? Correction? Compassion?

Go and sin no more.

Andy Stanley’s suggests that Jesus uses an earnest tone that urges the woman to change her ways. His words sound like “I don’t need to condemn you. Your sin is already killing you. I want better for you.”

Our sin breaks God’s heart. He has a beautiful life planned for us and sin destroys that. It kills our mind and body. It affects our self respect and relationships. It damages our conscience. Dr. Stanley says “every sin comes prepackaged with a penalty.”

Go and sin no more, not because God will punish you or because the Bible says not to. Stop sinning because you’re hurting yourself. How many lessons can you find in Jesus’ response?

Some people think Christians are no fun, that biblical guidance restricts our lives. But the opposite is true. We gain more than we lose by living by God’s design. God is for us and sin is against us.

Reflect on your life. Name your sin. Confess it to God who forgives you and gives you the strength to change.

Then… tell a trusted friend or counselor who will hold you accountable. Find community to support your new life. You are not alone in the struggle.

Jesus doesn’t need to punish our sin. It’s already killing us.

These 5 practical steps are a place to begin your transformation.

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