ESOCS Devotional 2 April 2023
MEMORY VERSE: “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 8:10 & 11
TEXT: JOHN 8:1–11
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Early in the morning (at dawn), He came back into the temple [court], and the people came to Him in crowds. He sat down and was teaching them,
3 When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in the middle of the court and put the case before Him.
4 Teacher, they said, This woman has been caught in the very act of adultery.
5 Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such [women—offenders] shall be stoned to death. But what do You say [to do with her—what is Your sentence]?
6 This they said to try (test) Him, hoping they might find a charge on which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger.
7 However, when they persisted with their question, He raised Himself up and said, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.
8 Then He bent down and went on writing on the ground with His finger.
9 They listened to Him, and then they began going out, conscience-stricken, one by one, from the oldest down to the last one of them, till Jesus was left alone, with the woman standing there before Him in the center of the court.
10 When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?
11 She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The coming of Jesus is an expression of God’s love for man. The expression “so loved” in John 3:16, shows how great the love of God for man is. Though man is sinful and worthy of death, it is not His will or His plan that man should die or perish. Hence, He sent Jesus Christ to redeem man and save man from condemnation and eternity in hell. The ministry of Christ is to save and not to condemn. The event of John 8: 1 – 11 is a clear expression of this. Christ here demonstrates the ministry He has come to fulfill, a ministry that is completely different and a total departure from what had hitherto held sway in the people’s relationship with God. Before the advent of Christ, the law defined the people’s relationship with God and the basis of this relationship. It spelt out how they lived and defined matters of righteousness and unrighteousness. By it, man for transgression was liable to different degrees of punishment, which in many cases was the death sentence, usually by stoning. This was not good for man. For man is sinful by nature, which in practice translates to a daily life of sin (breaking the law); hence by the law, all men stand condemned. This was the case not just with the woman but with all who brought her to Christ, for all men by the law are sinners. No one is free from the sanctions of the law and all stand condemned by the law. Christ clearly demonstrates that all have sinned and He has come not to condemn sinners, but to give them salvation that they may be justified and freed from the bondage and curse of sin. This He accomplished at Calvary when He died in our place and paid the price of our sins that all who accept Him, who believe in Him will no longer be condemned, but have everlasting life.
This is a great demonstration of the love of God and His tender mercies towards man. All that is required is for the sinner to accept the salvation He is offering free.
- How possible do you think it is to keep the law?
- How do you think man will fare if judgment is based on how man keeps the law?
- Lord, I thank you for your love and tender mercies towards me. Thank you for dying in my place. I receive the salvation you are offering me. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Dwell in me and make me live the life that is pleasing to you. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Genesis 24:29-end; Zechariah 9:9-12; Matthew 21:1-17; 1 Corinthians 3:36
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ESOCS Devotional 2 April 2023
