by Pastor Doug Cox

In John chapter 8 you can read the story about how certain religious leaders caught a woman in the act of adultery. (Somehow the man got away), but they drug the woman from where she was at and set her in front of Jesus as he was teaching. They said to Him “…Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” (John 8:4-5)

Interestingly, Jesus didn’t respond instantly with words like they hoped. Instead, He stooped down to the ground and wrote something with His finger as though He did not hear them. Not realizing the tables were about to be turned on them, this band of self-righteous accusers kept probing Jesus for His opinion about her being stoned or not. That’s when Jesus did what He does. He raised Himself up and said to them, “…He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7)

Next instead of forcing a face to face confrontation with these men, Jesus stooped down again and began writing on the ground again, giving opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work on the conscience of each finger pointing brother.
They all responded individually. Verse 9 says “…those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”

I’m thinking that even now, the woman had to have been quivering in fear. Not just because of the harshness of those who had just accused her but now realizing she was in the presence of the very One who could really decide her fate. I’m thinking fear must have still gripped her as the Master once again raised Himself up and looked around. This was no ordinary man. This was a man who possessed authority and presence like no other she had seen before. A man whose judgment could not be second guessed.

She watched as this Man raised Himself up and “…looking around 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.” (John 8:10-11) Now I’m thinking of how that fear must have drained from her body and was replaced with relief when she heard from the lips of the One who could condemn her say “neither do I condemn you.”

Friends, that’s what freedom looked like for her and that’s what freedom looks like for us as well. But for us, Jesus did more than stoop down on the ground. He was buried ‘in’ the ground after dying on the cross for our sins. After paying the price of death for our sin He rose triumphant over it to be seated at the right hand of the Father having earned the right to give eternal life to all who receive Him. (See John 1:12) That’s what freedom looks like for us. “Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)