“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.” (John 8:10–11)
Jesus does not condemn the adulteress, but He does give her a clear warning not to sin anymore. This is how God wants to encounter sinful humanity. He wants to save them without, however, trivializing sin. Sin leads them into separation from God, so that He can no longer fill them with His love. Yet it is His love that seeks out humanity and does not want to leave it separated from Him.
Jesus rescues the woman from the hands of her accusers and holds up a mirror to them. Can anyone cast a stone at her? Is anyone without sin?
Only Jesus Himself, the Son of God, is without sin. Only He Himself could lift up the stone. And He does not do so! That is not why Jesus came to earth. God does not raise stones to punish the sinner. He Himself offers forgiveness. The stones were thrown at the Son of God! He suffered for the guilt of mankind so that we might live.
Such is our Father!
Yet Jesus does not let the sinner go on her way without a warning. God does not want to condemn her, but she must change her life. If she remains in sin, she remains in darkness and may also perish with her sin.
The same applies to humanity. If humanity accepts the invitation to repentance, it comes into the light. If it does not accept the invitation, it condemns itself and remains in darkness.
Here is the video featuring reflections on Jesus’ words from the “3 Minutes for Abba” on June 4 and 5: