Revelation 12:10 (NKJV) "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down."
John 8:10-12 (NKJV) "When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
These verses come from a classic set-up story with sad overtones on how people treat each other. Some enemies of Jesus were trying to trip Him up and therefore decided to take advantage of a compromising situation to bring Jesus down. The deed was "caught," and the woman was dragged to Jesus and the crowd that was around Him. She was undoubtedly fearing for her life, since the consequences of the act were well known.
Many people knew that Jesus was a very careful keeper of the law and probably expected Him to come down hard on the woman. She probably worried about the same thing. But, surprise surprise, Jesus was calm and composed, stooped down and began writing things in the sand at her feet. Her accusers noticed He was writing, looked at the writing for themselves, and quickly departed since they didn't want to have their own wicked deeds exposed.—They had seen the "writing in the sand" so to speak.
The woman expecting a scathing rebuke, instead heard Jesus ask her regarding her accusers, and if she had been accused. She responded, "No one Lord!" He lovingly responded, "Neither do I condemn you!
Of course, He also instructed "Go and sin no more,—for Jesus not only wanted to assure her of His pardon and acceptance, but also His desire and willingness to help her experience a transformed life. We must always remember that pardon and His acceptance of us is only one part of the wonderful life-changing work that He does on our behalf.
We can easily imagine that she left the scene with a song of praise and gratitude in her heart for the loving kindness and understanding of Jesus.
Was Jesus' kindness an exception that day? Or was that His normal way of doing things?
I want to suggest that Jesus always loves and always does good. We need to learn to trust Him more.
Notice the following statements:
"Let your mind come fully and habitually under the belief that Christ loves you. As you make a full surrender of your will to God’s will, your way to God’s way, you will learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart, and will find rest unto your soul. (Matthew 11:29). A calm confidence will preside over you. Your heart will possess a dignity to which before it was a stranger. You will experience more and more clearly the sense of an ever-present, all-pervading Saviour. This will give the soul power to hold its stability, power which the changing circumstances of earth cannot undermine. It plants the feet upon a solid rock. {18MR 81.5}
Then you can sing with the spirit and with the understanding also. Under all discouraging circumstances your heart will rejoice in your Saviour. You will find opportunity to speak words of hope to the weary and the desponding." {18MR 82.1}
"Those who are in connection with God are channels for the power of the Holy Spirit. If one who daily communes with God errs from the path, if he turns a moment from looking steadfastly unto Jesus, it is not because he sins wilfully; for when he sees his mistake, he turns again, and fastens his eyes upon Jesus, and the fact that he has erred, does not make him less dear to the heart of God. He knows that he has communion with the Saviour; and when reproved for his mistake in some matter of judgment, he does not walk sullenly, and complain of God, but turns the mistake into a victory. He learns a lesson from the words of the Master, and takes heed that he be not again deceived. Those who truly love God have internal evidence that they are beloved of God, that they have communion with Christ, that their hearts are warmed with fervent love toward him. The truth for this time is believed with sound confidence. They can say with all assurance, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.... We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” – {RH May 12, 1896 Par. 7}
We face accusations and accusers in our day? There are many—human sources and Satan himself (Rev. 12:10). Let us remember that Jesus loves us and is more than willing to give the same "Neither do I condemn thee; go sin no more" message to us.
Have a blessed day!
Dan