The Adulteress: A Stone's Throw from Grace
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Her story is scandalous, first word to last. And glorious.
At dawn, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees tarried by a nameless woman's door, itching to drag her out of bed and into the temple, where Jesus was teaching. Moments later, half-dressed at best, the woman was forced to "stand before the group" (), like Hester Prynne wearing her scarlet letter, cheeks stained with shame.
The words of the Pharisees were harsh, accusatory: "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery" (). This woman? Look, she wasn't alone in that bed. Where was her partner in crime? Sleeping in? Reading the Mount Olives Times? Since Mosaic Law insisted "both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death" (), how come they weren't both hauled into the temple?
Sting Operation
Listen, the Pharisees weren't interested in punishing the man or the woman. They were after Jesus. And so they threw words at him, sharper than any rocks: "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" ().
Oh, great. If Jesus told them, "Stick to the Law: Stone her," his grace-filled teachings went out the window. But if he said, "No! Don't stone her," he opposed the Law of Moses, a dangerous move for a rabbi. The Pharisees thought they had him nailed.
Breathless with anticipation, the crowd watched as "Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger" (). This is the only place in Scripture where Jesus wrote something, and we don't know what it was. Talk about frustrating! Did he list the Ten Commandments to prove he knew the Law? Write out the many sins of the Pharisees? Or scribble, "Don't go away mad, just go away"?
Written in Stone
Most scholars think the Lord was doodling. Yup, just drawing lines in the shifting sands of the temple floor, sparing the accused woman from his holy gaze, waiting until the crowd was ready to hear his answer. Finally he stood and said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" ().
None in the temple that day qualified, and they knew it. None of us do either.
Only one person in recorded history "has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin" (). Only one person could have rightfully condemned her. Only one person could have thrown that first rock.
But he didn't. That's not why he came. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (). Jesus came to save an adulteress that day in the temple, and he came to save you, beloved.
He bent down again to draw in the sand, giving his words time to sink in. Sure enough, "those who heard began to go away one at a time" (). How like Jesus, gently whispering the truth into each ear, convicting each heart, one by one.
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2007, July/August, Vol. 29, Issue 4, Page 58
Related Topics:
Adultery, forgiveness, Grace, Judging others, Shame, Sin
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lynette
some scholars believed that Jesus wrote all the sins of those present to make them remember that they are all sinners. So they didn't have the guts to throw the comdemning stone at the woman.
Jirayi
This ministers strength, a route to true rrepentance and transformation. There is a way back to God and that is what Jesus offers to us now
Vivian Fields
The questioned arised with me and a friend of mine during a discussion as well about the whereabouts of the male counterpart. However, It shows just how things are magnified when the spotlight is on a woman and not the man for an incident that took two to partake in. Yet, was not Jesus' birth the same way, when Mary was with him because of the Holy Spirit? So it was no surprise that once again it would come to try and discredit who he was and his mission. But what an awesome savior we have that is not moved nor distracted by the ignorance of those who really didn't understand and/or know him. That which he wrote and spoke; was just as much for them as it was for the woman standing before him. What love! That He would advocate on her behalf in such a manner that it silenced the critics! That with one gesture I believe that as he wrote in the sand he was writing the words that would be written into the very minds of those listening.
Jan Brown
A prof. in seminary suggested that Jesus was writing the 10 commandments into the dirt or clay just as the finger of God wrote them into the stone tablets. As Jesus wrote them, when each man saw his own sin written down they walked away. John seemed to write the Gospel of John intending to show the comparison with the Exodus story and the life of Jesus. This would just be one more comparison and an interesting bent on the story. Good job, Liz.
Anonymous
We have to realise that no matter the sin of others we are all guilty in the eyes of a JUst God. So the best we can do is just to stop condemning others of their wrong! Good message you got here! Bless you.
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