The story is the one of the adulterous woman found in John 8, and takes place in Judea, where Jesus had traveled to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. He taught at the temple, and the people were confused and amazed at his teaching. One morning, when he had gone to teach at the temple, "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, '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?' " I always thought Jesus' initial response was hilarious - he simply bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. I wondered what the King of Kings, the Savior of the earth was doing writing in the dirt! But then, as the Pharisees and teachers of the law continued to bug him, Jesus finally answered, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Wham! Silence. Perhaps for the first time in their lives, these teachers and Pharisees had nothing to say to Jesus, who had gone back to writing in the dirt. They were completely silenced before him because they knew. They knew all too well after studying the Law for hours upon hours that they were sinful - painfully, hopelessly sinful. So what was there for them to do but leave? And they did, one by one, I imagine them leaving shamed by their own sinfulness and the fact that this man, this Jesus of Nazareth, had humbled them. They didn't even leave to plot his death or arrest!
So, then, Jesus and this woman were left alone. He stood up and looked at her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" What in the world could this woman have been thinking in the moment when she replied, "No one, sir." And even more so, what brilliance, hope, and life must have flown through her when He said to her, "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." She received no death penalty, no public disgrace other than what had already occurred. She received only this: grace and a call to repentance. Is not grace given to us before we repent as well? "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). This little story in John has a HUGE message for us: grace. "For it is by grace you have been saved." I don't think the idea of grace has ever been phrased as beautifully as in the age old hymn:
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see
This adulterous woman was saved by the grace of Christ Jesus. Not only was she saved, but she was given a hope. I can relate to this woman so much. While I may not have committed adultery specifically, haven't I ever turned my back on my Beloved Bridegroom and chosen some sin over Him and His Word? And yet, in spite of it all, He has given us grace. I can't even begin to to put into words how huge of an impact that has in our lives, but thankfully His Word can speak for itself, so check it out!!
Blessings!
