Are you familiar with the story of Mary where she is caught in the act of adultery? Mary is brought to Jesus by the Jewish leaders because they want to trick and trap Jesus. According to the Mosaic Law, she is to be stoned. But being under the Roman authorities, they cannot kill (or stone) this woman. What should Jesus do?
Instead Jesus says, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." (John 8:7) Then He wrote on the ground. We don't know what Jesus wrote on the ground, but the Jewish leaders, one by one, left the scene in haste! The following is the famous dialogue between Jesus and Mary:
"Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"
She said, "No one, Lord."
And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
John 8:10-11
Ah! Isn't this a famous text? We always talk about that line: "Go and sin no more." We like to put emphasis in this line and make it the climax of this story. And I agree with it, too. But we need to read a little bit more into the story and find out that this story does not end here.
This is what verse 12 says:
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."
Yes! This is one of those famous "I AM" texts in the gospel of John! I AM the water, I AM the bread... I AM the LIGHT says Jesus. It is important to "sin no more" now that Jesus does not condemn us and that we should live a purer life. BUT, it is more important to live in JESUS! The best way to succeed in the "sin no more" life is to live in the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. Attempting to "sin no more" without Jesus is just very difficult. We need to expose ourselves in the Light where there is no more sin. If we are in darkness, no matter how much we run we will still be in darkness, unless we turn on the LIGHT of JESUS, for He will get rid of the darkness.