“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?’  She said, ‘No man, Lord.’  And Jesus said unto her, ‘Neither do I
condemn thee: go and sin no more’” (John 8:10-11).  “Neither
do I condemn thee …” were not the words this woman must have expected to
hear in her wildest dreams!  Can you put
yourself in her place for a few moments? 
She was absolutely guilty.  She
had been caught by others in the very action of sin.  She had no excuse … no alibi … no one to
stand to defend her.  She was absolutely
guilty of the charges that had been laid to her account.  She had nowhere to turn for help. 

All this changed when she met the Lord of all lords
and the King of all kings.  Of all that
could accuse this woman, Jesus held the final gavel in His hand as the ultimate
Judge of men/women’s sin.  Here she was
in front of the one Who knew everything about her … the details of all her sin
(not only the most recent).  There was no
fancy lawyer to get her out of this situation. 
I can imagine this woman, with disheveled clothing … hair strewn all
over her head … face to the dirt … cringing at ever little sound … anticipating
the bone-bruising effect of the stones buffeting her body.

Instead, she hears a gentle, yet powerful voice asking
two simple questions: “Woman, where are
those thine accusers?  Hath no man
condemned thee?”  At which, I believe
possibly for the first time, she raises her eyes to look at her accusers.  She is incredulous, seeing they all have
gone!  Where did they go?  Why had they not stoned her to death?  Why had they not carried out the judgment on
her they were so committed to on the trip to this temple?  She replies simply, “No man, Lord.”  I’m sure that
she now anticipates judgment from Jesus. 
He is the only man without sin in the room!  It’s still what she deserves.

Jesus had come to offer mercy and grace to sinners
just like her … and me.  Praise God!  Rather than feeling the bruising effect of
the stones upon her physical body, she realized the soothing balm of the
forgiveness of sin from Jesus!  This is
incredible!  Forgiveness in the place of
justice!  Can it be true?  Can it be true, not only for this woman, but
for me too?  Yes, it’s true!  I have been forgiven of much … I want to be
willing to offer this same forgiveness to others who have offended me.  Those who have offended me pale in comparison
to the sin Jesus had to forgive me.  I am
thankful for God’s forgiveness of my sin, and want to be ready to forgive
others as well.