Today’s Gospel reading is truly my favorite.
John 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
When I listen I can implant myself in both scenarios.
Standing before Jesus the accusers fingers dig deeply into the skin of my arms, the rest of the accusers crowd close behind me breathing heavily down my neck. And as Jesus remains kneeling, writing in the sand my heartbeat accelerates for fear of what He will do. But then He speaks and with His words my heart stops, I close my eyes tight, waiting for the sting of the first stone but it never comes. Suddenly, I feel Jesus’ hand on my cheek and I open my eyes to look into the kindness of His face. “Do not sin any more,” He says and I know I’ve seen the face of God.
On another occasion when I listen to today’s Gospel reading I can visualize being the accuser, throwing up my arms in distaste at the sin committed by the one we’ve ‘caught’ doing evil. The atrosicity of the sin committed makes me angry and I want justice! How dare this person commit this act? Don’t they know how many people it affected? Don’t they know that their sin has affected my life and changed it? They were selfish, foolish and I want them to feel the pain they’ve inflicted on the rest of us. I want Jesus to condemn them! But what is it He is writing in the sand? Why isn’t He enraged too? What is it that He just said? “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” His words repeat in my head. But my sin isn’t as bad as theirs! “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” Ugh! Memories of my own indiscretions come to mind and my hand holding firmly onto the stone of condemnation comes down to my side. “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” Images of the faces of those that I might have harmed with my words, actions or selfish deeds flitter before me and I drop the stone onto the ground. I’m still upset with the accused’s behavior and action but I can not condemn them for fear of being condemned. I’ll trust Jesus.
Both scenarios had reason to be condemned by Jesus but he states to the woman, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” I believe this statement was made to the accusers as well. He does not condemn us but we must change our lives and ‘sin no more’.
It’s a daily battle to remain out of either scenario. But with daily meditation of His healing word He gives you the strength and ability to do so.
Blessings
Shannon