A Tale of Two Transgressions

This morning during my devotional reading, I read John 8. In this chapter, we read the story of the woman taken in the act of adultery and brought to Jesus.

Countless sermons have been preached about the various elements of the story...the writing in the sand, the absence of her male counterpart, the accusers convicted by their own consciences, and the beautiful words of Christ, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. "

What a beautiful depiction of the boundless mercy of Jesus this is.

What gracious words.

But later on in the chapter, we read of another encounter between Christ and a very different breed of transgressor.

He confronts the Pharisees, who refuse to accept Him for Who He is, the Son of God.

His words to them stand in stark contrast to the words he spoke to the scarlet woman.


Joh 8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

He acknowledged that they would seek Him; and yet, He plainly said, "ye shall die in your sins."

Why would the gentle Saviour who so readily forgave the adulteress speak words so utterly devoid of hope to these men?

Because even more serious than fleshly transgressions is the refusal to accept revelation when it is staring you in the face. If you will not accept that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, you can never have a sin remitted.

His interaction with them was confrontational. It was direct. It was without circumlocution or glib oratory.


Joh 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

He was from above. He came crashing into their well ordered religious tradition and declared Himself, and they rejected Him.

Thank God for the precious Truth of the Mighty God in Christ, for without this revelation, there is no remedy for sin.

Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

He is the great I Am, the Everlasting father, the Prince of Peace.

I believe. I hope you do too.

While we resist the sins of the flesh, and rightfully so, let us not forget that perhaps an even graver spiritual condition is the refusal of revelation.

Think on these things.

jdc