1. No Condemnation

To read today's scripture online, I suggest the following website:
https://netbible.org/bible/John+8

Free Indeed

The eighth chapter of John is one that taxes my ability to read with understanding.

First of all, there is the controversy about whether the first eleven verses even belong in the Bible! Yet it is such an endearing picture of Jesus. A woman who has been caught in adultery comes to Jesus. All the time that she is standing there condemned, Jesus is writing in the sand. No record exists of what he wrote, either!

But he challenges the one who is without sin to stone her by throwing the first rock. No one does. Starting with the oldest, they all file away.

After they have all left, Jesus asks the woman, "Has no one condemned you?" When she replies, "No one, sir," he says, "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."

Two things stand out here: That Jesus does not condemn, and that we can leave our life of sin.

At least two other passages come to mind about condemnation. 

This one from John Chapter 3: (NET Bible)

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.

In this passage the author, John the beloved disciple, teaches about Jesus. John says that Jesus didn't come to condemn anyone to hell. He came to offer his gift. If we love the light we will come to him. If we love darkness we will not come to him.

In Romans 8:1, the apostle Paul says, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

There is a lot more to teach, but that is enough for today. Jesus doesn't come to put you down, to demean you, to degrade you. He comes to offer you life; we will learn more about that another time.