As [Jesus] was speaking, the Jewish leaders and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and placed her out in front of the staring crowd.

   "Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Moses' law says to kill her. What about it?"

   They were trying to trap Him into saying something they could use against Him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with His finger. They kept demanding an answer, so He stood up again and said, "All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But he who never sinned may throw the first!" Then He stooped down again and wrote some more in the dust. And the Jewish leaders slipped away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until only Jesus was left in front of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?"

   "No, Sir," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."

   [Jesus was crucified between two convicts:] One of the criminals hanging beside Him scoffed, "So You're the Messiah, are You? Prove it by saving Yourself - and us, too, while You're at it!" But the other criminal protested. "Don't you even fear God when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this Man hasn't done one thing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom."

   And Jesus replied, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise."

   Before, sin ruled over all men and brought them to death, but now God's kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

   But now God has shown us a different way to heaven - not by "being good enough" and trying to keep His laws, but by a new way . . . Now God says He will accept and acquit us - declare us "not guilty" - if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Yes, all have sinned: all fall short of God's glorious ideal; yet now God declares us "not guilty" of offending Him if we trust in Jesus Christ, Who in His kindness freely takes away our sins.

Taken from Jn. 8, Lk. 23, Rom. 5, 3, The Living Bible. For free Lifescope book,
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