The teachers of the law and the Pharisees are anxious to catch Jesus in a trap, so they bring this woman to the temple courts. Jesus is seated, teaching a crowd of people gathered around him. The religious leaders interrupt, saying that under the Law of Moses this woman should be stoned. They ask Jesus what he thinks should be done.
At this point they might be avoiding sidelong glances at each other. They probably are working hard not to break into grins. They've got him! They know the Romans don't allow the Jews to carry out death sentences, so if Jesus says to stone her he'll be in trouble with them. But if he says to let her go, he will be violating Moses' law.
Never mind that the law required the execution of both parties. For whatever reason, her partner was allowed to escape, and she was brought to the temple, her humiliation on display for dramatic effect.
Instead of answering the religious leaders, Jesus bends down and writes on the ground with his finger. Which is pretty funny, when you think about it--Jesus, ignoring them, playing in the dirt. We don't know what he was writing, but we do know that it drove the religious leaders crazy. They kept questioning him.
Finally Jesus stands up and says, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Then he stoops down and goes back to writing.
And they leave. One at a time, oldest ones first. Finally, only the woman is left.
Gently, Jesus says, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
She replies, "No one, sir."
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus says.
His answer must have washed over her like wave on the sand. Cleansing, obliterating the past.
Expecting judgement, the woman is surprised by grace. Grace so powerful, so unexpected that Jesus' next statement seems like a no-brainer.
Expecting judgement, the woman is surprised by grace. Grace so powerful, so unexpected that Jesus' next statement seems like a no-brainer.
"Go now and leave your life of sin."
Having met grace at the point of her greatest need, her deepest humiliation, her darkest hour, she is ready to follow Jesus anywhere. No way would she go back to where she'd been. She's been transformed by grace.
One thing that has always bothered me about this story is the absence of her partner. Adultery takes two, after all.
It isn't fair. He didn't have to bear public humiliation. He didn't have to sit while the Pharisees watched their best-laid plans to trap Jesus unfolded. He didn't have to wait while they decided who would throw the first stone.
He got away with it.
For the rest of his life, he carried the guilt of his transgression. He didn't get to meet Jesus face-to-face and hear his words of pardon. He got away with it, but he wasn't transformed. He didn't receive grace.
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