John 8:10-11 (KJV)
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Jesus & the Twisted Sista
Christ and fhe Adulterous Woman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Jesus was a revolutionary. Because of His compassion and authority to forgive sins, He healed people on the Sabbath, spoke in the synagogues, and forgave sins. This infuriated the religious authorities, who took it upon themselves to plot against His life to keep His teachings from spreading. “They” thought they had the perfect chance when they caught a woman in the act of adultery. Bringing her to Jesus, they wanted to see what He would do, presuming that He would do something that would allow them to condemn Him.
In their eagerness to set a snare for the Savior’s foot, they forgot one important thing: themselves. But Jesus, knowing all, knew them and the woman very well, even as He knows all men. So He ignored them. Pretending He didn’t hear them, He wrote on the ground. The Bible does not say what He wrote. Perhaps Jesus wrote words describing the sins of those who wanted Him to stone her. Regardless of what the exact words were, the Bible says something very interesting:
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. John 8:7-8 (KJV)
Jesus wrote on the ground not once but twice, then something amazing happened:
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. John 8:8-9 (KJV)
Perhaps what Jesus wrote caused conviction in the hearts of the men who had come to make him an instrument in the woman’s death. They wanted to provoke Him to murder. But, He had not come to kill the woman, but to show her compassion and forgiveness. He also gently rebuked her for her sexual sin.
The story reaches its well-known conclusion:
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 , No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:10-11 (KJV)
The crowd presented Jesus with a choice: to pacify them and assent to the stoning of the woman, or to set her free and risk being condemned as a fraud for choosing love and compassion over the strict interpretation of the law of Moses. The choices were plain: the will of man for the glory of man, or the will of God for the glory of God. Jesus choose the will of God, which He had come to earth to set up. Jesus came to save the lost, not slaughter the lost. He would not be tempted into denying His role and duties as the Son of God. After the crowd had dispersed, Jesus was the epitome of grace and compassion. “Where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” He asked. Then He gently let her wounded soul go free, while letting her kindly know that He was aware of who she was. His last statement and instructions to her were: “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Holy, harmless undefiled, gentle Jesus meek and mild, maintained His purpose. Staying separate from sinners, He brought glory to the Father.
Jesus and the crowd had one thing in common. They both agreed that adultery was wrong. The difference was how they responded to the soul of the woman who had sinned against God, her own body, and society. The crowd wanted to destroy the body that housed the soul that committed the wrong. Jesus chose to save the woman’s body and soul, while instructing her to choose to abandon her sinful, socially destructive ways. This is a model for the behavior of all believers.
Having learned that it is more important to do the will of God than the will of man, what then is my prayer? My prayer is this: O, Merciful and loving Heavenly Father. Forgive us for the many harsh ways we have treated other people. Forgive us the unkind motives, self promotion, and callous disregard we have so often displayed. Lord, You know all, and have all power and knowledge. Make us humble and wise like Your precious Son, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners. Let Him Who is higher than the angels infuse our hearts and lives with His power and mercy, that we may do Your work in this world. These things we ask in the mighty and precious name of Jesus. Amen.
May these words educate and comfort you today. Until we meet again: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)
Your friend in Christ,
– Verneda
Twitter handle: @vlights
© 2013 Verneda Lights. All Rights Reserved.
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