Dropping The Stones

Dropping The Stones

In John 8:1-11, there is a story about a woman who was dragged in front of Jesus and accused of a crime. Jesus was in His favorite place, the temple. He went there often to teach—something He had down since He was a child.

Some leaders stormed into the courtyard with a woman, pushed her in front of the crowd and told Jesus she was caught in the act of adultery. They wanted Him to stone her.

Here is the dilemma: Jesus taught about love and forgiveness. How could He condemn someone to death? That would contradict everything He had taught. On the other hand, the law was very clear on this issue. She must be stoned!

What could He do? They had laid a very clever trap. Jesus would be a hypocrite no matter what He said.

He stooped down and wrote in the sand with His finger. As the drama mounted before Him, He finally stood up and looked around. He cut the silence by saying: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

There was stunned silence as the entire assembly thought through what Jesus had just said. None of them was without sin. Not a single one of them could claim that. Who would step forward?

One by one the accusers dropped their stones and left the courtyard until the only person left with the woman was Jesus.

Let’s think about that for a minute. There was only one person in this scenario who actually WAS without sin. Only one person could rightfully condemn her. That lone, blameless man now looked at her, "Where are your accusers? Is there no one left to condemn you?"

"No one", she replied.

"Then neither do I condemn you", said Jesus. "Go and sin no more."

With those words, Jesus taught us all that forgiveness is our obligation to each other. We are not made to be judges. That is God's job. Our job is to love, forgive and move on.

The world changed that day. Jesus changed how you and I think about others forevermore. Those words of forgiveness have been changing people for over 2000 years, teaching us to love when we are tempted to judge.

Ephesians 4:32

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."