[2] Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. [3] The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst [4] they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. [5] Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” [6] This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. [7] And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” [8] And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. [9] But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. [10] Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” [11] She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]
Justin Kim
Superficial appearances
This situation was presented as a situation of choosing justice. But that is not really what's going on. Firstly, the Pharisees only brought the woman. Where is the man? The law states that both the man and the woman should be stoned. But here's another catch, the mount of olives is under Roman jurisdiction. The Jews were not allowed to execute capital punishment. This was purely made up as a trap. There was no concern with justice or the woman. People were treated as pawns. This situation exposed how corrupted and twisted these teachers of the law really were.
The wisdom in the silence
Jesus understands the trap. The Pharisees were pressing him on this to trap him whether he chose to execute the woman or let her go. He doesn't engage him on their terms. He stoops down and draws something on the ground. After they press him further, he responds on his terms. He tells them that one who is without sin should cast the first stone. What is he really saying? He's referring to the rest of the law. The execution is supposed to be started by the eyewitnesses. Eyewitnesses were to be impartial and looking for justice. Where were they? Are they innocent in this? Do they fall short in this area as well?
There's two silences in this. One is when Jesus doesn't answer at first. Next is when Jesus answers them. Silently, the Pharisees walked away starting from the oldest to the youngest. Jesus' response was a mirror. They see their need for mercy as much as this sinful woman.
We go from this chaotic scene of a crowded courtroom drama to just the woman & Jesus. We don't know whether this woman knew Jesus. Consider that Jesus is the one person who could cast the first stone. He was without sin. He does not condemn, but rather gives her grace. The initial situation was a sham of a trial. But this, this is the real judgement. But also he immediately tells get to leave her life of sin. It is both grace and truth. Jesus met her in her guilt and calls her to new life.
Grace that doesn't call us to change is not grace, but permissiveness.
This is the call of the gospel. We cannot reverse these two. We feel like we need to earn our place. Firstly, we need to receive this forgiveness, this mercy. Then, we can answer the call to a new life. We cannot earn it, so Jesus pays it. He is the payment of our debt. It is a costly grace.
The verdict for the Pharisees is for them to sit in the silence and consider their sins & their need for grace. So, we should also consider that we too need to consider our sins firstly and what grace we need rather than focusing on others' sins.
For the woman, who came with guilt and shame, there is a call to accept the grace of Jesus and walk the path of new life. To consider our old life dead and to walk in the new life Jesus calls us to. To accept the grace offered to us, that is free to us, but is of great cost to Jesus.
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