Accused

Imagine each day being challenged by those who wish to destroy you.

Early in the morning Jesus came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” - John 8:1–11

At first glance, this is a story about a woman being accused of adultery, but this story really isn't about her.

She is being used as a pawn in this chess game.  The goal is to take the king, Jesus.

The woman was caught in the act, so her fate was clear.  She was about to be stoned to death.  Being paraded in front of Jesus was just delaying the inevitable.  There was no hope for her.  She was ready to die.

What makes this story so amazing is how it played out.

The Pharisees must have expected Jesus to forgive the woman's sin, and then they would have him where they wanted him.  Only God could forgive such a sin, so if Jesus forgave her, they could say he was blaspheming God, and the punishment would shift to him.

But Jesus didn't take the bait.

He took a different approach, and we are not exactly clear why or how it worked.

It could be that something Jesus wrote on the ground caused the men to rethink their strategy.  Or maybe his comment was enough for them to realize none was without sin.

He makes us ask ourselves who among us is righteous enough to accuse and punish someone else for their sins?

In the end, all of us would find something that keep us from claiming we are free of sin, right?

So, the woman goes free.

An impossible outcome becomes possible, and that can only happen when Christ is involved.

More to come...