Have you ever felt the sting of being accused—maybe by others or yourself? Perhaps it was a mistake you made, one you wish you could erase, but instead, it plays on repeat in your mind. If that’s you, this story might change your perspective.
Picture this: Jesus is at the Mount of Olives, teaching early in the morning at the temple. People gather around Him, eager to hear His words. Suddenly, the calm is shattered as the scribes and Pharisees burst in, dragging a woman behind them [John 7:53-8:1-11].
This woman has been caught in the act of adultery. There’s no trial, no defence—just public humiliation. The religious leaders shove her forward and declare, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” [vs 4-5 ESV]
But this wasn’t about justice; they were testing Jesus, hoping He’d say something they could use against Him.
Picture the woman standing there, surrounded by the crowd, their judgment heavy in the air. The shame, the fear—it must have been overwhelming, don’t you think?
But Jesus does something unexpected. He doesn’t argue, doesn’t get flustered. Instead, He stoops down and begins writing on the ground. The Bible doesn’t tell us what He wrote; maybe that’s the point. But in that moment, He shifted the focus from the woman to Himself.
The Pharisees, persistent as ever, kept pressing Him for an answer. Then Jesus stood up and said,
"He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." [vs 7]
And just like that, the tables turned.
One by one, starting with the oldest, the accusers walked away. Their self-righteousness couldn’t stand under the weight of their own guilt.
When everyone was gone, Jesus looked at the woman and asked,
“Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” [vs 10]
She replied, “No one, Lord.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Take a moment to let that sink in. This woman, moments away from being stoned, walked away free—not just free from condemnation, but free to start again.
This story goes beyond forgiveness; it’s a profound display of grace. Jesus didn’t overlook her sin but extended something far greater—redemption and a chance to begin anew.
Now, let’s bring it back home. Maybe you’ve been carrying the weight of past mistakes. Maybe you’ve let others or your own judgments define you. But here’s the truth: Jesus doesn’t condemn you. He calls you to step out of shame and into grace.
Think about it. If the only one truly qualified to throw a stone chose not to, why are you still holding stones against yourself or people?
This story reminds me of Sarah from my last post. Remember how she laughed at God’s promise of a son because it seemed impossible? Yet her disbelief didn’t disqualify her from God’s blessing. God didn’t condemn her for doubting; instead, He fulfilled His promise and turned her laughter of disbelief into a laughter of joy.
Just like Sarah’s doubts didn’t cancel God’s plans for her, this woman’s mistakes didn’t cancel God’s grace over her life. And the same applies to you and me. God’s grace is bigger than our failures. It’s a grace that silences the accusers, both external and internal. It’s a grace that lifts our heads when we feel unworthy to look up.
As Luke 6:36 (ESV) reminds us,
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
Jesus demonstrated this mercy so beautifully in His interaction with the woman. He didn’t shame her or dismiss her. Instead, He offered her a way out—a fresh start.
So, the next time you’re tempted to beat yourself up over a mistake, remember this: Jesus doesn’t stand in judgment over you; He stands in grace beside you. And just like He told the woman, He’s calling you to move forward—to leave the past behind and step into the life He’s prepared for you.
Let this story inspire you to forgive yourself and others, to stop holding onto stones of judgment, and to embrace the freedom that comes with God’s grace.
Love and Blessing Always,
Emem đź’›
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