Thank God, I'm Free!
Today’s Verse:
“When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” ~John 8:10-11
One of the great Bible words that powerfully indicates what God does for us when we get saved is the word “justification.” It is has been defined as God looking on us just as if we had never sinned. The word “expunge” is a legal term that indicates a criminal record has been made clear and does not show that a crime was ever committed. This morning, we are studying a woman who was cleared of her sin. We see a woman whose exclamation was, “Thank God, I’m free!”
We see a conspired SET UP.
The Pharisees and scribes sought to entrap Jesus and make him guilty of breaking their laws and traditions. They were angry and embarrassed that he pointed out the flaws in their system and the wickedness of their hypocrisy. They refused to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. The Psalmist asked, “Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing?” These unsaved religious hucksters adopted an exploitive scheme of taking advantage of another person in order to rid them of Jesus. You see, where Jesus is present, his very presence causes us to see how sinful we are and our need of him. We either receive him, or reject him.
We see a carnal SIN.
These men slyly took a woman in the very act of adultery. Adultery is the breaking of the seventh commandment. Adultery breaks the marriage covenant. It is a sin that was punishable by stoning at that time. It is disturbing that this woman was taken in this sin. It is more disturbing that these men set her up and did not even accuse the man she was with. The Pharisees now brought forth a public scandal, and attempted to use this to discredit the Lord Jesus. It is terrible that men make much of the sins of other people, but make light of their own sins. Sinful men will always try to contest with God about the definition and consequences of sin instead of seeing how wicked they are in the eyes of God.
We see the convicting SCRAWL.
As soon as this situation was brought to Jesus, he simply bent down and started to write in the sand. It is as if he was ignoring them, but in reality was using this as an opportunity to deal with their sin and hypocrisy. Jeremiah 17:13 says, “O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.” Jesus was writing the sins of these evil accusers and hypocrites in the earth! It could be he was even writing their respective names and associated sins! Jesus bent down and wrote twice in the sand! The Holy Spirit writes on the table of our hearts convicting us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Do you sense his conviction in your heart?
We see the compassionate SAVIOR.
These Pharisees read what Jesus was writing in the sand. He stood and said, “He that is without sin among you, let him be first to cast a stone.” One by one, each man dropped his stone and quietly walked away. Jesus took control of that awful situation and brought great conviction to each man. After each of these hypocrites walked away, he compassionately turned to this woman and asked her, “Where are thine accusers?” At that needy moment, this sinful woman sensed the love and compassion of God for her. For the first time in her life, she discovered true hope, relief, and forgiveness. Though men would condemn her, she experienced the mercy and grace of our Lord. Oh what a Savior!
We see a comforting STATEMENT.
His parting words to this woman were, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” She answered him, “No man, Lord.” He replied, “Neither do I condemn thee. Go, and sin no more.” She was forgiven! She was set free! She was justified! She had a new start! Old things were passed away; all things became new! In her heart, she was rejoicing, “Thank God, I’m free!” Rejoice this morning that your sins have been forgiven, and God looks upon you just as if you never sinned!
Have a comforted God Morning!