Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

John

John 
Day 
Day 111

Sent to save and not condemn

Text: John 8 : 1 - 11

SENT TO SAVE AND NOT CONDEMN

Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee, had come to Jesus late one night to speak to Him in length concerning His teachings (John 3). One of the things that Jesus had emphasized was the task that God had sent Him to do.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son…
For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world through Him
might be saved.”
John 3:16-17

The Jews had not fathomed the mission of Jesus. They had not spoken to Jesus in depth and thus they failed to comprehend the task that God had given Him.

He was not sent to condemn. The Jews had wanted Jesus to condemn the woman caught in adultery because they did not understand that He had come to do the very opposite. He had come to save people… just like this woman. He would also demonstrate the love of His Father in the process of offering salvation as well.

WITH GREAT COMPASSION

As the shuffling of feet died away, there was another kind of silence. The woman now stood beside her Benefactor. Who was this Person who stood by her side and fought for her? With a great sense of awe and trepidation, she finally heard Jesus addressing per personally! Imagine a great Rabbi speaking in public to a woman caught in sin! What grace and compassion that action symbolized.

“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?'”
John 8:10

Condemnation seemed to be a big thing with the Pharisees. They condemned the masses as people who did not know the Law (John 7:49). The Jews had condemned Jesus as one who “had a demon” (John 7:20). It should not surprise us much that they attempted to condemn the woman caught in sin. The accusers, now convicted of their own sins, crept away, shamed by the sins that they had committed all their lives. Left alone, Jesus and the woman had the simplest conversation, and yet those few words exchanged with each other were fraught with meaning.

“She said, ‘No one, Lord.’
And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you;
go and sin no more.'”
John 8:11

DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF SIN

The condemnatory approach of The Jews was typical of the way they understood how sin was to be dealt with. They utilized the Law of God to justify their approach to sinners! How wrong they were in their perception and in their approach. How differently Jesus dealt with the problem of sin.

John presented Jesus dealing with sin in the following ways. Let us take time to ponder over just four things highlighted the way Jesus saw His mission on earth.

1. The Lamb of God

Jesus was the Lamb of God who came to take away the guilt and penalty of our sins (John 1:29, 35).

2. The Son of Man

Jesus did not come to condemn but to give life to those who believed in Him (John 3:15-17).

3. The Righteous Judge

Jesus claimed that the Father had entrusted to Him power and authority to judge man. He had the authority to pardon or to mete out judgment (John 5:24-30).

4. The Bread of Life

Jesus spoke of Himself as “The Bread of Life” (John 6:48). He offered Himself as the Living Bread who gives life to all who believed in Him (John 6:51).

WOULD JESUS HAVE TO CONDEMN ANYBODY AT ALL?

Jesus is wonderfully compassionate and forgiving. However, this does not mean that no one would ever be condemned. The following situations must be thoughtfully considered.

1. Rejection

Those who rejected Jesus disdained none other than the Son of God (John 3:18).

2. Preference of evil

Those who preferred wickedness and evil rather than the light Jesus offered (John 3:19-20).

3. Final Judgment

Graciously Jesus will withhold final judgment until the very end (John 5:25-29).

RECEIVING THE LOVE OF JESUS WITH DEEP GRATITUDE

Jesus exercised great compassion towards sinners. How should a person respond to such love? Surely there must be deep gratitude. Genuine appreciation is most suitably demonstrated when we heed the words of Jesus and “sin no more”. This is not a statement of “sinless perfection” but a challenge to practice studied avoidance of sin.