In the 8th chapter of John a woman found committing adultery was brought to Jesus while he was in the temple teaching. The scribes and Pharisees reminded Jesus that according to the Law, Moses said she should be stoned to death. But, they said, what do you say? They were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus of going against the Law of Moses. Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger, as though he did not hear them.
When they would not let him alone, Jesus stood up and said "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her". The scribes and Pharisees that heard his words were convicted of their sins by their own conscience. In other words, all of them remembered their own sins which they had committed and began to walk away, beginning with the oldest to the youngest.
None of them were without sin, and Jesus knew it. He himself was the only one present who had no sin, and thus the right to judge her. And he chose not to!
After everyone left who had accused the woman of adultery, Jesus stood up, looked around and said "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" Then the woman responded, "No man, Lord." Jesus then replied to her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
Jesus did not say that the woman did not deserve to be stoned according to the Law. He did not deny her guilt. He simply chose not to condemn but to forgive her instead. After forgiving her he told her to go and sin no more. What a loving Savior he is!
Following this Jesus said to those looking on, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Sin is darkness. This woman was living in darkness, bound by a life of adultery just as so many are today. But Jesus is the light of the world. That means He has come to deliver all of mankind from the darkness of sin. He has paid the price for all of us to be free from sin no matter what our sins are! He has not come to condemn us for our sins but to save us from them! How wonderful!
He has paid the price for our sins with his own blood on the Cross and shown us the way out of sin and death... He is the Light of the world. He is saying to you that if you will follow him, you will not walk in the darkness of sin, but will have the light of life!
Won't you call upon him now, ask him to forgive you of your sins and begin to follow him today. If you will ask him, he will forgive you, even as he did this woman. Remember, He has not come to condemn you, but to save you!
Jesus is the Light of the world!
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