Dropping The Stone

John chapter eight might just start with one of the strangest recorded events in the life of Jesus. That is saying a lot in a book that contains numerous miracles and wonders. It is strange because of all the things it leaves out. It tells us about Jesus’ writing but doesn’t tell us what he wrote. He is asked a question and he doesn’t give an answer. Angry men are in a mob ready to kill yet end up slinking away one by one with no definite reason as to why.

The story is about a woman caught in the very act of adultery and then caught up in the political games of the Pharisees. They want to test Jesus to find something they could use against him. She is a pawn in that test.

So, Jesus says nothing. He just stoops down and writes on the ground. They push for an answer. He eventually responds, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” The perfect person gets to go first.

But no one does. One by one they leave. It starts with the oldest first and soon no one is there but Jesus and the women.

It is then that Jesus rises back up as if he had not noticed a thing. Where did they all go? Who going to condemn you? None of them are left.

Then Jesus does something spectacularly unbelievable. He doesn’t either. In all the things left out, he leaves out the punishment. The only person that fits Jesus’ criteria to throw the first stone, doesn’t.

Rather he challenges her to something better; “Go. From now on sin no more”

Sin is evil, it must be condemned right? How will people change if they are not punished? If we don’t condemn sin we are accepting it, aren’t we?

Jesus didn’t. Sin no more but I don’t condemn you.

Strange isn’t it?

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