¹ but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 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.”

John 8:1-11

They pulled this women into their scheme, using her sin and circumstance, as a way to trap the One who could save her. They had no concern for her or her well being. They wanted to use her sinfulness just as much as the one who was caught with her was using her.

But Jesus doesnt play their game. He doesn’t argue law or reason with them. He simply uncovers their hypocrisy and unwillingness to deal with their own sin and says, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” They all walk away with the wind taken from their sails of voilence, leaving Jesus alone there with the women. He doesnt condemn her. He calls her to sinlessness, to forgiveness. That’s our Savior.

When have you used others sin for your own benefit, either to shift blame away from yourself or to use their sin as an example of your so called righteousness?

Father, forgive me for the ways I’ve shifted blame away instead of called out for your mercy. Lord, your love and forgiveness is beautiful and abundant. Sadly, I often deflect and miss that goodness all together. Help me to just be honest with my sin and call it what it is, that I might receive healing and restoration through Jesus. In His precious name, Amen.

All is grace,

Starla