"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare His righteousness for the remissions of sins that are past through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." - Romans 3:23-26 (KJV)

In John 8, the story of the adulterous woman serves as a vivid illustration of the principles found in Romans 3, particularly the concept of God's vindication in His justification of sinners. As the scribes and Pharisees brought the woman before Jesus, they were not focused on her. They were focused on Christ Himself to see if He would respond righteously according to the law. They were seeking to trap Jesus in a dilemma between upholding the law and showing mercy. This scenario mirrors the tension between God's righteousness and His desire to save sinners, as described in Romans 3.

It is important and edifying to realize that the center of all attention is not the woman, but Christ Himself. She was just being used as a "prop" in the story of the vindication of Christ. Many times when we are cognizant of deep sin, and the law, the enemy, and even people who know us are accusing us, we think all the attention is on us and are filled with shame and humiliation. This is how the woman surely felt. Not only that, but she thought for sure that she was being brought to her death and was full of fear. For many of us, this is where we lived as we came to know that Christ is the King but were not yet clear on the implications of justification. Then, as we began to see the truth, we found the burden lifting off us, and we found that our eyes were on Him as He did not condemn us. If only we could see that we are really in the "peripheral" view in this scene and that Christ is the center. He is the one being accused and tested in His dealings with us, and His answer is absolutely righteous. In forgiving us, He is vindicated. Furthermore, once His decree of mercy reaches our ears, all of our accusers vanish along with the same, the humiliation, and the fear! How did this happen? Because they ended up in the "background" as we got our gaze off of ourselves and onto Him!

This is the way we not only deal with inward shame but also the outward accusation that comes to us as we are drawn by Christ Himself into the knowledge of Himself. Sometimes we're "dragged to Jesus" by the law, our conscience, our situations, and our accusers, and yet He always works it together for our good that we may know Him and that He may become first and foremost in our view.

The story of the adulterous woman in John 8 not only highlights God's mercy and forgiveness but also serves as a powerful picture of His vindication in justifying sinners. Through Jesus' response to the woman and her accusers, God's righteousness is upheld, and His grace is magnified. This account beautifully illustrates the truth found in Romans 3: God's righteousness is revealed through the gospel, and His justification of sinners is both just and merciful. Remember that Satan accuses us not for our sake. These accusations are directed at Christ who has made Himself the friend of sinners!

Father, I thank You that You have justified me freely by Your grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. I thank You for sending Your Son to be the propitiation for my sins, and for declaring Your righteousness for the remission of sins that are past. I thank You that through faith in Jesus' blood, I can be justified and made righteous in Your sight.

Lord, I pray that You would continue to reveal Your righteousness to me through the gospel; and that You would help me to see Christ as the center of the story. Thank you that I am not a slave, but a son and an heir. Thank you for your washing and the renewal of my mind, and for justifying me freely through your grace. Thank you for the redemption that is in Christ, that I can stand before Him and in Him, confident of being “accepted in the Beloved.”