I have always loved the story found in John 8 of the women caught in adultery.  Most Bibles explain that this story is not found in some early Biblical manuscripts.  Perhaps it is a story that was remembered later and certainly it fits the character and nature of Jesus.  Let’s take a look at it together today. 

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Of course one of everyone’s first questions is what did Jesus write in the ground.  The religious leaders who brought the woman were not interested in the law or in justice they simply wanted to test Jesus.  After all where is the man in this situation that she was caught with? Jesus seemingly ignores them and draws or writes in the sand.  When they press the issue He asks those without sin to cast the first stone.  Then He goes right back to writing in the dirt.  I think the point is that He doesn’t ignore her sin He simply extends her grace.  He offers her grace and tells her to go and leave her life of sin.  It’s the same offer He gives to us all.  That’s what Jesus does.  While sin is a serious matter to God, His grace is always bigger than our sin.  Jesus offers us His amazing grace and offers us a better way to live.  A life where we find out satisfaction in Him and not in sin.  I pray that we would all experience God’s amazing grace and live and rest in His offer of freedom from sin. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave