The woman caught in adultery was dragged to Jesus by her accusers. They used her as a pawn in an attempt to back Jesus into a corner. I can imagine the verbal blastings she received on the way to Jesus. Confident that their scheme was surefire, they eagerly pressed Jesus for an answer. He didn’t answer immediately but put His head down and started writing in the dirt with His finger. Her accusers demanded Jesus answer them!
After a seemingly lengthy, awkward silence, Jesus stood up, looked at her accusers, and asked them, whoever is without sin among you, throw the first stone. Their heads quickly dropped in shame. One by one, they drifted back into the day’s shadows with flashbacks of their sins now at the forefront of their minds.
Jesus then told the woman words she never dreamed she’d hear. He wouldn’t condemn her but sent her on her way with the words go and sin no more!
She had no idea at the beginning of the situation that being caught and brought to Jesus to be condemned would turn out so beautifully for her. Jesus removed the death sentence from her life.
I am thankful for this account because it is a beautiful reminder that Jesus can truly change anything, even a situation that seems like a slam dunk for the enemy.
I understand that if she hadn’t committed the offense to begin with, she wouldn’t have been in such a horrific position. That is a fact. But how often have you and I found ourselves in things that were our own doing? But thank God for His mercy and this precious reminder that no one can block God from granting it.
Jesus, backed into a corner? Never!
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple,and all the people came unto him; and he sat down , and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him,that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself , and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said , No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:1 -11 KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)