The woman's heart beat hard and fast as the men broke down the door to her small abode. She had thought it odd to have such a customer as this in the daylight hours. However, she needed the money to buy bread. Most of the men now bursting through her door were regular customers, coming in the folds of darkness to hide their own sin. Now, they stood accusing her of adultery, no matter that they themselves were guilty of the same sin. They forcibly drug her through the streets of the city to the temple where a man sat calmly teaching a large group of people. They turned their face from her for they knew what she was. She, too, knew what she was and the shame of it brought tears to her eyes.
The religious leaders called the man “Teacher.”  She had heard of Him; she knew Him to be Jesus of Nazareth. The men boldly brought her before Him while tears streamed down her face. Their voices carried over the noise of the crown in the temple. “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say?” Even as they said this, she saw the men had stones ready to condemn her. She felt faint with fear, and she visibly shook. She looked into the eyes of the Teacher and saw such compassion and love, she momentarily forgot her fear.
Jesus did not immediately answer, but simply stooped down and wrote upon the ground. They pressed him, their voices and accusations growing louder. Finally, Jesus stood and answered calmly, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” He stooped down and wrote again. The hearts of these men were stricken with conviction. They knew they had sinned just as much as this woman. Beginning with the oldest, one by one, they dropped their stones and left. When Jesus stood and saw no one but the woman, He asked “Woman, where are those accusers of yours/ Has no one condemned you?” She answered, “No one, Lord.” Then Jesus answered, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:2-11).
As Christians, too often we unintentionally remind others of their past mistakes and sins. We cannot seem to forget the wrong someone else has done and remember nothing good they do until their life is over. Even if no one ever says a word about the past, you can see it sometimes in their eyes … condemnation. Who are we to condemn when Christ has forgiven us?  “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps 103:12). Why can't we encourage each other instead of tearing our brothers and sisters down reminding them of all they have done?
Jesus shed His blood to forgive us of our sins. “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows … He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:4-6). It's time to drop the stones and grudges against those we unwittingly judge. It is time to stop the condemnation and share the love of Christ.