To Throw the Stone John 8:1-2 Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. 3-6 The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. 6-8 Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. 9-10 Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” 11 “No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.”
Caught in the act, imagine the shame.
But does Jesus scorn her? No. Only her accusers that used her to trip up Jesus…just sure that He would have to condemn her and look like the cruel person they wanted to portay Him as.
But in His most loving way, He turned the tables on them. Just like He does to us when we get complaining about what someone else is doing.
I’ve never been caught in the act of adultery, but I’ve done some things I am hugely ashamed of and I am so thankful that God’s response is…go on (meaning: don’t stay here in this shame) and start over, don’t do it again.
Forgiven is a beautiful title, take it.
To my local girlfriends…hope to see you tonight at the Coffee Mill in Plainwell for our Praise and Coffee Night!!!!
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