"When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, 'Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?
She said,'No man, Lord.'
And Jesus said unto her, 'Neither do I condemn thee. Go, and sin no more.'" -- John 8:10,11

This is one of my very favorite stories in the Bible. But it has also always made me feel guilty. I've always read Jesus's final words to the woman as just a command. And when I read it, I remember that I always do sin again, and I ask myself why I just can't be good.

But just now something different and wonderful appeared to me as I read this passage: Jesus wasn't just telling her to go and be good; he was freeing her. "Go, and sin no more" was spoken in the same way as "Rise, take up your bed and walk." The cripple couldn't obey of his own power if those were just words, and neither could the sinner. It only works if The Word speaks the words, and makes one able to obey.