Final Judgment
Imagine being caught in the act, knowing there was no way out.
Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he 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 7:53-8:11
Usually, when I read this story, I put myself in the role of one of the men standing around in judgment over the woman, but today, I decided to take a different perspective. I am imagining what it would be like to be the woman.
This story is a lot like a parable, isn't it?
Jesus has set the stage for a turn around, and we, like the woman, don't see it coming.
She has to be frightened, knowing she was caught committing adultery, possibly wondering why the man she was caught with was allowed to get away.
Maybe she is feeling a bit sorry for herself. Maybe she is even angry. But she has no way of knowing this could end well for her.
In Jesus' kingdom, the outcome isn't always obvious. Guilt and sin are not final judgments. There can be redemption and salvation.
That's the surprise ending here. The judges are corrupt, and they are called out, so the woman gets a reprieve.
Not a bad ending for someone who was facing certain death.
She probably wet herself out of fear before hearing Jesus tell her to go and sin no more.
That's the good news here. Judgment isn't always final.
More to come...