John 8:11b

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

From Background Notes [BN] for August 10^th & 11^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Beyond the favorable judgment in her favor, Jesus has bigger plans for her. We would say because of Jesus the woman experienced justification — she was put to rights in the eyes of the Judge and before the Court of heaven. Jesus had the authority to grant that to her. But the woman is not released from her sentence because she was sinless.

Jesus makes quite clear that behind her was “a life of sin” and that situation was far more dangerous for her than the threat of stoning by the radical Pharisees. After all, there remained the enemy within, who was quite aware of her weaknesses and would continue to exploit them. It’s as if Jesus said to her, “My dear woman, this is today. What about tomorrow?” What about the power of sin to hold her captive and bring her back to this awful place again? From that Jesus invites her to depart, to leave behind “her life of sin.” The operative words are these: “Go now” (Greek: poreuou, “proceed”) — that is, move forward and beyond. For the woman, there is a better way a more complete way of living. It is not the way of lustful desire, but the way of perfect love from the heart, celebrated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13: “The more excellent way.” Go, Jesus tells her, and take hold of that way and leave the old way behind.  [BN,6]

Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:

* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am, 5:30pm