John 8:3 The scribes and Pharisees interrupt his teaching, dragging into his midst a woman caught in adultery. That means she is married. So, where is the guilty man? Wonder if he is in this crowd?
The law of Moses says stone those who are unmarried. What will Jesus say? A silent Savior, writes in the dust of the ground. He writes where it will soon be erased by the shuffle of their feet. No permanent marker here. A totally absent partner. No actual witness just hearsay.
A throng of learners sitting in the Temple now surrounded by a small circle of Pharisees and this nameless woman. Jesus stands and says in John 8:7 - "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And, again, he writes on the erasable ground. And what happens next is so beautiful. Beginning with the older Pharisees and scribes, they leave one-by-one. Wonder why the older ones are moved by their conscience before the younger ones? Wonder how many of them had been unfaithful to their wives?
All gone. He asks: "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus ends this story: Neither do I; sin no more.
So touched that he wrote on the ground where it is erased forever. He remembers our sins no more. As far as the east is from the west. He doesn't hold anything against me. I do. I'm so hard on myself. Repent. When was the last time I repented today? Sin no more. My Silent Savior sees all.
John 8:23-- "You are from below; I am from above.(AJ) You are of this world;(AK) I am not of this world."
ReplyDeleteWe are aliens, sometimes (OFTEN) not understanding the directions. I am so thankful for the guidebook of His word. It never changes, the more I read it, the more I discover what a compassionate God I serve. Looking at His example of the woman caught in adultry, knowing my own sins, I will strive to be kinder, and to show more compassion to others today.
But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.
ReplyDeleteBev. those same verses stood out to me this morning! I especially liked the part about Jesus being left alone with her. When it all comes down to it, at the end of the day all of our choices will be brought out of the darkness and we will have to face Him.
Sweet redemption.
ReplyDeleteWondering what the One who looks into hearts and sees all wrote in the dirt...
Hearts melt, hardness turns to self reflection, self righteousness dissolves as each heart must examine its own sinfulness.
First, the old, then the younger.
Remembering the black and white me of years ago who "knew it all" and judged so quickly. . .
Can you imagine wondering who this Man of Peace could be, whether you are the woman who has done wrong, or the blaming one in the crowd. He still melts hearts of stone and those who throw them.