“Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” -John 8:10-11
Jesus was in the temple one morning. A small crowd had gathered around him to hear him teach. While he was sharing about the kingdom of God, a group of Pharisees and scribes brought a woman to Jesus. Unlike previous moments in John’s gospel where the sick were brought to Jesus for healing, this woman had been “caught in the act of committing adultery.” (John 8:4) She was dragged through the crowd and stood before Jesus. In one terrible moment, the temple changed from a place of learning to a place of belittlement and judgment.
The public accusations against this woman were spoken for all to hear. However, this poor woman was only being used to test Jesus. They asked Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (John 8:4-5) With no regard for the woman’s life, they attempted to trap Jesus so that they could somehow prove he was a false teacher.
Jesus caught them off guard when he bent down and began writing in the dirt. Now, we have no idea what he was writing, but some believe he was writing parts of the law. Maybe he was writing the greatest commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) I imagine it took some time for Jesus to draw in the dirt. I bet it really got their attention. He stood back up, sad that they had forgotten the grace and mercy shown by God to all, the same grace and mercy we are called to share. Jesus simply said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)
Jesus knelt back down and continued to write in the dust. John tells us that one by one, they dropped their stones and walked away. Eventually, it was just Jesus and the woman. Now, alone with Jesus, she would find restoration and not condemnation. She would receive the grace to live a new life.
As God’s children, we are called to offer life to others as well. This can be challenging because, if we are honest, we can be judgmental. We are easily angered. We struggle with people who think and act differently from us. This is when we must look to the examples of Jesus, who offers grace and mercy to all. That morning in the temple, Jesus not only offered grace to the woman who had been dragged before him, but he also offered grace to the teachers of the law. They were all shown the better way that day, and now we are reminded that love for God and love for others is how we are to live as well.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
