Thoughts on the Gospel of John (51) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 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.
John 8:9-11.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (51)
Jesus and the adulteress were left there alone. The tension of this incident in the region of the temple was dissipated. The plan of the scribes and Pharisees to emerge victorious had been thwarted. They were the ones embarrassed; not the Lord. Unable to bear the light shed on them, they had taken to their heels.

Two were left behind: one pitiful, the other showing pity. There was a holy solemnity about the atmosphere. The Lord's question: "Where are your accusers?" reminds us of God's first question after the Fall: "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9). When their conscience is pricked, people hide from God, realising that they are sinners.

The woman said little. What the Lord had told her accusers clearly affected her. The One standing before her was truly the "Light of the world".

In view of their guilt, none of the accusers dared to stone the adulteress. How had the Lord reacted? He did not turn a blind eye, nor did He condemn her outright, for her accusers were no less sinners than she. He had not "come to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:17).

The Lord did not assure the woman of forgiveness, for which confession and repentance are necessary. He warned her not to sin, for every sin is an affront to God.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: Job 2:1-13 · Acts 5:25-32