You’ve often heard it said that condemnation is not from God, only conviction. This is, of course, the truth. But how can you be sure, when you’re sinking under the weight of the guilt and shame of sin, that it is not God who is condemning you?

In John 8, the Jewish religious leaders brought an adulterous woman to the temple complex where Jesus was teaching and made her stand in the center, an act of great shame and humiliation. They told Jesus that, according to the Law of Moses, this woman deserved to be stoned to death for her sin. Surely He would agree with what they were saying, for how could He contradict the Law?

But Jesus, the pure and spotless Son of God, surprised them. He said, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her” (v. 7). None of the religious leaders could claim to be sinless, so one by one they walked away until only Jesus and the adulterous woman remained.

What’s so heartbreakingly beautiful about this picture is that Jesus, the only One in all of history to be without sin, and thus the only One who had the right to condemn her, didn’t. Instead, He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, Lord.”

“Neither do I condemn you” (vv. 10-11).

He didn’t condemn her. And He doesn’t condemn you. Today, rest in the love of God and push aside all thoughts of condemnation. God is for you, not against you.

“No condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).