8/11/26

John 8:7 NASB95 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

A woman was caught in the act of adultery. Now I could get into the discussion of adultery taking two people, but I do not feel like this is where the Lord is leading me today.

We could get into the discussion of the fact that Jesus did not ignore the sin but reprimanded the woman by saying in verse 11, "Go. From now on sin no more." Yet also did not allow the death penalty because the ones who were proposing it were sinning in doing so, not in bringing forth the sin but in only bringing the woman to prove their point and discredit the Lord pridefully. Yet once again, I do not feel this is where God is leading me.

As I have prayed today, I have had a wonderful time with my Lord. What He has been speaking to me about is how we as Christians desire to overlook our sins because God has forgiven us, but we want to hold everyone else accountable for their sins. It has been said many times: we want mercy for ourselves and justice for others.

Jesus bent down and began to write in the dirt with His finger. No one today knows what He wrote because Scripture doesn't tell us, but we do know those who accused the woman of her sin and desired to afflict the judgement began to leave one by one, beginning with the older ones.

Jesus had already been writing on the ground, and they could see what He was writing, but they kept insisting Shouldn't she be punished for her sin. This is the letter of the law; should we not stone her to death? Jesus, answer us. Tell us it is ok to continue to desire to see her severely punished for her sins. Tell us we are right for desiring to be the ones to not just point out her sin but to also be the ones to publicly make her suffer for her sins. Jesus, give us the word. Deep down inside there desire was to kill the hope of the woman caught in sin and to hurt Jesus' reputation all at the same time.

The text says, "They persisted in asking Him."

They were persistent. They had no intention of seeking to see her reconciled with God. Their desire, and I am sure it made them feel pleased inside, was to see her suffer.

They were PERSISTENT in desiring to not just see but be the one who punished her!

The text continues, and says Jesus straightened up. "He straightened up." Make sure you don't miss this. Jesus didn't just casually say this as He was writing on the ground in the dirt. He stopped what He was doing. He stood up and faced them so they could see the seriousness on His face as He looked at them and spoke. This was no, maybe we ought to think about it statement. This was a bold, look at me when I am talking to you, statement. Jesus was, in essence, taking their face in His hands and saying Hear my voice, read my lips, and look at what I am writing! Then He spoke.

"He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

If you have never sinned, then maybe you can be the one to punish her for her sin! As far as I know, JESUS WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THAT CROWD WHO WAS WITHOUT SIN! He had the right to stone her, but he desired repentance and forgiveness instead. He didn't ignore the sin, but He also offered her a chance at life, with Him.

Then He again stooped down and began to write on the ground that was full of dirt. The same dirt that our Father molded us from. It is like He began to write on our very being that we are sinners in need of mercy and grace.

Paul writes in

Romans 2:15-16 NASB95 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

Are we today holding on to others' sins with a desire to see them punished while all the while wanting God to show us mercy and grace?

Maybe we are not realizing our own sin and think that we are better than them. Maybe we need to look inside and see what Jesus is writing in the dirt of our being. Then maybe we won't be so eager to cast stones. Maybe we will desire to be like Jesus and say. I know your sin, and you really don't need to do that, but I don't condemn you; instead, I encourage you to repent and seek forgiveness from Jesus and go and sin no more.

Instead of desiring to hurt you. I desire to show you Jesus.

I pray we will work together to populate the Kingdom of God!

Love Brother Scott