Before You Pick Up A Stone.....

They dragged the woman to Jesus, forcing her half dressed body into the midst of the temple crowd where Jesus was teaching. There she stood in front of the crowd; both her and Jesus had been ‘put on the spot’ in front of everyone in the temple.

“What do you want us to do with her, Master?” they sarcastically asked Him. Jesus knew their intention was to trap Him – they’d been waiting for a moment to catch Him and label Him as a lawbreaker - even if they had to set Him up to do it!

But as people often do who seek self elevation, they had given Jesus just enough information to swing the argument to their favor, hoping to be elevated in the eyes of the people who stood by and watched. The accusers hoped to be rid of Jesus once and for all and regain the honor and status that ‘belonged to them.’

But where was the other half of the adulterous duo – it takes 2 to tango – even the law recognized that both parties were guilty (Deut. 22). When Jesus asked if any of the accusers were without sin they began to disappear one by one – hoping that Jesus wouldn’t confront their own sins.

They knew that Jesus had seen into them –he had seen their adulterous and greedy hearts. But what they didn’t perceive was that Jesus was giving them as much mercy as He was giving the adulterous woman. Jesus offered them the same forgiveness he offered her, knowing full well that the bucket of each of their sins was overflowing.

When they scattered from the scene it was because of fear – fear of being exposed. But the adulterous woman left forgiven and whole! She stood in front of Jesus and faced her sin and received His love and forgiveness, but they left in bitterness of heart, agitated at having been humiliated.

Jesus waited until the accusers left, then spoke gently to the woman. He had no need to prove himself ‘right’ in the eyes of the crowd because His motive was to restore this woman to God. The accuser’s motive is to point out his own righteousness by illuminating the wrong in others: a method of gaining followers and self satisfaction.

We who love God also love the brethren – we are not those who fall into the trap of being the accuser of the brethren. We are those who offer mercy and forgiveness, those whose motives spring from a deep desire to see those who are caught in sin fully restored to God.

“We must be able to exercise gentleness and forbearance toward those who err, since we ourselves are also liable to moral weakness.” (Paraphrased, Heb. 5:2)