John 8:1-11 (KJV)

8 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 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?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

 

When I read this story, I think of how Jesus showed love and grace. Here were a group of men accusing this woman of adultery, which was wrong and punishable by death. All these men pointing their fingers at this woman, expecting Jesus to condemn her. She knew she was wrong. She knew she deserved death. The way Jesus treated this woman caused her to be saved. His compassion towards her allowed her to accept His grace.

Jesus did not let these men change his reaction. He did not fall prey to peer pressure and pick up the first stone. By the way, He was the only one there that could have thrown a stone. Instead, He chose love and compassion. The way Jesus treated this woman caused her to be saved. His compassion towards her allowed her to accept His grace.

I like to picture Jesus writing the sins of those men standing there accusing this woman. One by one they left as their sin was written in the sand. We don’t know what Jesus was writing, but we do see the example we are supposed to follow.

We are to show love and compassion to others around us, no matter what their sins are. We should not judge others. Love the sinner, hate the sin. We should recognize that if not for the grace of God, we could be in the same situation as those we are wanting to judge.

When we act in love and show we care, people are more likely to listen to us. That is when the door opens and we can share the love of Jesus with them. God is not our accuser, and we should not be someone else’s accuser.

Search someone out this week that needs to see some love and compassion, not judgment.