MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” – John 8:11

MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT! God is Merciful, even in Judgement. There is Mercy in His Punishment: “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities” (Psa.103:10). God is Just Judge and Merciful Justifier! When He punishes for sins, it is done in Mercy. If He were to punish us according to what we really deserve, we would have been consumed! The story in John 8:1-11 aptly illustrates the triumph of Mercy over Judgement.

She had been caught in adultery – in the very act! She was married, but not to the man whose arms she'd been in. Suddenly the door burst open. Fuming men dragged her – and her secret sin – out into the open street. Insults fell on her like blows. Derogatory words must have pierced her soul like arrows. A gathering crowd gawped at her with scorn. Her life was undone in a moment by her own doing; and it was about to be crushed into the dust. They were contemplating stoning her. What thoughts must have gone on in her muddled mind: “O my God, they’re going to stone me! God have mercy!” The verdict of the Law on her case seemed clear: “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel” (Dt.22:22). Both shall die! She would die! But where was he? No time to think. She was half pushed and half dragged through the streets; despised and rejected; an outcast from society.

Suddenly she was thrust in the face of One. And she heard these words: “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” (v.4). Mercy looked at her, then at her accusers, and bent down, writing in the dirt. Impatient prosecutors demanded a verdict. He stood back up. She held her breath, eyes on her feet. Mercy spoke: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (v.7). The crowd hushed. Perplexed, she glanced at Him. He was writing in the dirt again. She heard mumbling and grunting from behind. Then shuffling, as they were leaving – one by one! No one grasped her. It took some nerve to look around. Her accusers were gone! She turned to Mercy. He was standing, staring at her, and said: “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (vv.10-11).

Her guilt was real. She committed the crime of adultery. God, through Moses, commanded her death. But God the Son simply said, “Neither do I condemn you.” How could He possibly say that? Could God violate His own commandment? Is God unjust? Absolutely not! God fully intended for this sin of adultery to be punished to the full weight of His law. But she would not bear her punishment. She would go free. The Messiah – Mercy Personified – would be punished for her: “But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isa.53:5).

Here is the Gospel Story! Every single one of us is that woman. Our sins – the murky lusts, damaging tongues, vicious hatred, debasing greed and deceit – stand naked before God as clearly as the woman's sins in the temple courtyard. Our guilt is glaring and our condemnation justified. Yet, the Son of God says these stunning words: “Neither do I condemn you.” Why? Because He has been condemned in our place! He was the only one in the crowd that day who could, in perfect righteousness, require the woman’s death. And He was the only one who could, in perfect righteousness, pardon her. Mercy triumphed over judgment. And the same is true for us!