Here is the story of a woman caught in adultery, and put on public trial. Those who brought her - the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees - said to the one they wanted to be the judge, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do You say?" It was Jesus they were questioning, because they were trying to trap Him and "have a basis for accusing Him." (verses 3-6.)
These "experts" were not being careful about all that the law had said. The law said both partners in the act of adultery deserved equal punishment! (Deuteronomy 22:22.) Nevertheless they were really only interested in trying to trap Jesus.
"Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger.. They kept on questioning Him." (verses 6-7.)
We are not told what Jesus wrote on the ground with His finger. But we do know something God wrote with His finger away back at the time of Moses - the TEN COMMANDMENTS. (Exodus 31:18.)
"God's finger" points out His ten commandments; and if we look carefully at them we will discover that everyone of us stands condemned on many charges! (Romans 3:23.) And God declares that "the wages of sin is death"! (Romans 6:23.)
Jesus stopped writing and "He straightened up and said to them, 'If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground." (verses 7-8.)
Meanwhile, no-one moved to throw a stone at the adulterous woman!
Somehow the finger of Jesus had brought guilt to everyone present. You see in the sight of a Holy God the punishment for adultery is not more or less than the punishment deserved for other sins - for stealing, or telling lies, or using images in worship, or putting others in the place God alone must have, or taking His Holy name in vain, etc. (Exodus 20:3-17.)
Having the commandments never made anyone good (Romans 3:19-20.); but they do prove that everyone stands guilty and condemned before God! That should cause everyone to want to find out about the forgiveness God offers through His Son Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:22-25.)
Nevertheless those who heard Jesus "began to go away (from Him) one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no-one condemned you?'
"'No-one, sir,' she said." (verses 9-11.)
Now what would Jesus do? Remember God sent His Son into this world, not to condemn the world, "but to save the world through Him." (John 3:16-19.) It would cost Jesus an awful lot if He was going to forgive this woman! Would He be willing to take the punishment for her sins? YES! That had been His very reason for coming into our world - to take the punishment for all our sins. (1st Peter 3:18.)
Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." (verse 11.)
Will YOU turn to Jesus NOW for His forgiveness, and His power to free you from your life of sin and disobedience? (2nd Corinthians 5:17.)
Read of Jesus' words of forgiveness for this sinful woman in John's Gospel chapter 8, verses 1-11.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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