Go, and Sin No More
Restoration through Christ's forgiveness
The Woman Caught in Adultery
Just as God called for a holy people in the Old Testament, the call for holiness is no less clear in Jesus’ own teaching and ministry. The story of the woman caught in adultery is a powerful image of God’s mercy, but also of our response to that mercy.
“Jesus stood up and staid to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”1
The Attraction to Sin
When we hear these words from Jesus’ own mouth, we know that it is something to pay attention to. Jesus knows that we have desires and struggles, and that we have an inclination towards sin. He is not asking us to complete an impossible task, to “sin no more” just because he enjoys watching us fail over and over again. Instead, Jesus is speaking to the dramatic life change that occurs when we experience the depth of his forgiveness.
I liked how Saint John of the Cross succinctly put it,
“Nothing but what belongs to the service of God should be the object of our joy. Any other joy would be vain and worthless, for joy that is out of harmony with God is of no value to the soul.”2
It is the Good News of Christ that renews our fallen nature and removes the attraction of sin. We are complete and restored in Christ. When Jesus says to go and sin no more, he is bringing complete restoration to the woman in the story, and can do the same for our hearts today.
Preparing Our Hearts
We can dwell on Jesus’ life-changing restoration and forgiveness as we reorient our lives to follow him today.
John 8:9-11
John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, bk III, chap 18, pp 296-297