Hi friend,

Welcome back to Tales of Grace—I’m so glad you’re here.

We’ve been journeying through some of my favorite encounters with Jesus in the Bible, and this week, I want to sit with a story that stops me in my tracks every time. It’s the story of the woman caught in adultery, found in John 8:1–11.

This woman… she was caught in the act. Her mistake wasn’t just whispered about—it was exposed. Public. Humiliating. She was dragged into the temple courts and thrown before Jesus by religious leaders, not out of a desire for justice, but as part of a trap. According to the Law of Moses, adultery was punishable by stoning. And they were ready to carry that out… or so they said.

But here’s what always gets me—they only brought her. The man involved? Nowhere to be seen. And that’s hard to ignore. It was unfair and unjust. But as much as that part of the story frustrates me, I try not to get stuck there. Because what Jesus does next is what changes everything.

Let’s pause and imagine how she must have felt.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what was going through her mind, but I can almost feel the panic—the crushing weight of shame. Maybe her clothes were torn, her dignity stripped, her heart pounding as the crowd circled around her. I imagine her with her eyes closed, waiting for the first stone, flinching at the sounds of their voices… bracing for pain, for punishment… for death.

But instead, she hears a voice—Jesus’ voice:
“Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Silence.

And then… the sound of stones dropping.

One by one, her accusers begin to walk away. Convicted, not of her guilt—but of their own. The crowd that was so ready to condemn now turns and leaves, until it’s just her… and Jesus.

Can you feel the shift? The fear slowly melting into wonder. The shame giving way to awe.

Jesus looks at her with such tenderness and asks, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

And she says, “No, Lord.”

Then comes the words that still bring me to tears:
“Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

He didn’t ignore her sin. He didn’t pretend it didn’t happen.
But He refused to condemn her.
Instead, He offered her grace. A second chance. A way out.

Friend, I still marvel at that. Because I see myself in her. Maybe you do too.

No, I haven’t been dragged into a crowd, but I’ve known what it feels like to carry guilt. I’ve sat with the weight of my own mistakes and felt the whisper of the enemy saying, “You’re not enough. You’ve gone too far.”
We have an accuser too—Satan. And while the world might not see our shame, we know what it’s like to feel it.

But here’s the good news:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

None. Not a drop.

Jesus doesn’t come to shame us. He comes to save us. To rescue us from the cycle of sin and guilt and offer us freedom. He doesn’t turn away from our brokenness—He steps right into it with grace in His hands.

I deserved death. And I met grace instead.

And that grace? It still amazes me. And no grace doesn’t mean I continue to sin but with the help of the Holy Spirit I pursue holiness.

So friend, let me ask you—do you see yourself in this woman? Or maybe, if you’re honest, you’ve stood in the crowd before, quick to point fingers before looking inward. I’ve been both. I’ve needed grace and I’ve needed the reminder to extend it.

I’d love to hear your heart. Share in the comments—can you relate to this story? What’s one encounter with Jesus in Scripture that moves you deeply?

And before you go—if this story stirred something in you, if you’re longing for a space to reflect, pray, and remember just how loved you are—I want to invite you to explore the Loved Beyond Measure Journal. You can get it here or in Amazon!

It was created for moments just like this… when grace meets your story. It’s filled with thoughtful prompts, scripture reflections, and space to meet with Jesus in the quiet. You don’t have to carry shame anymore. His grace really is enough.

With all my love,
Tales of Grace 🤍