The Pharisees shoved her into the temple court where Jesus was teaching. The crowd around him leered at her and craned their necks to see. The Pharisees were setting a trap for Jesus, and this woman was the bait. She had been caught in adultery. If Jesus said that she should be stoned, he violated Roman law, which prohibited the practice. If he said that she should not be stoned, he violated Moses’ law. The woman’s shoulders sank, and she began to tremble. She knew she was going to die. The enormity of her crime sank in. Stoning was a horrible death.
Jesus was quiet for some time as the questions and the jeers continued. Then he stated his case. He applied the Law to her accusers! Jesus bent down and wrote in the dust. She couldn’t see what he was writing, but his silence was having its effect on her accusers. No one wanted to meet Jesus’ eyes or anyone else’s. Shame overtook them one by one. The woman held her breath as the men left without comment. Finally, she was alone with Jesus, the only one who was perfect enough to condemn her – the only one merciful enough not to.
She wondered what to do. She did not try to run away or argue. She did not gloat over the fact that her accusers were gone.
But wait! She could hardly take it in; Jesus found her guilty, but he forgave her. Yes, she would change her way of life. Her illicit affair had brought her close to death. Perhaps for the first time in her life things clicked into place. Maybe she finally realized how terrible her adultery was. And perhaps she recognized that today she had encountered Truth. Only Jesus could know that is what she had longed for all along.
Jesus came to bring sinners to repentance. He came to save, not to destroy. No matter how hard we try, we will always be sinners until we are with the Lord. First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” When you sin, throw yourself on God’s mercy. Confess. Humble yourself. He will not excuse you; he will forgive you.
Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin”
Excerpt from Women of Faith Study Bible, John 8:1-11
