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"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
John 8:12 (NKJV)

The "them" Jesus is speaking to in this verse were the scribes and Pharisees. They had brought a woman caught in adultery before Him, hoping to trap Him. They expected Him to judge her according to the Law.

But Jesus did something very different. He saw her through the lens of mercy and grace.

He quietly stooped down and wrote in the sand. Then He stood up and said, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."

Then he bent down once more and continued writing.

One by one, her accusers walked away until only Jesus and the woman remained.

Jesus looked at her and asked, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"

She replied, "No one, Lord." Then Jesus spoke words that have echoed through history: "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

Notice that Jesus didn't ignore her sin. Neither did He condemn her. He extended mercy, offered grace, and called her to a different way of living.

Then, turning His attention to those still standing around Him, Jesus made one of the greatest declarations ever spoken:

"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

I don't believe those words are disconnected from what had just happened. The woman had been living in darkness, and in a single encounter with Jesus she experienced His mercy, His grace, and His invitation to walk in His light.

That invitation still stands today.

Step into His light. Receive His mercy. Embrace His grace.

And follow Him.

 

Mark Deavall