Carina Francke

Scripture: John 8:5, 6: In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground."

Grace is love that cares, that stoops down and saves. (John Stott)

A woman caught with adultery was brought to Jesus to pronounce the verdict - stoning according to the Law. His reaction was unorthodox, revolutionary - He stooped down and spoke with his finger writing on the ground. The message is unknown, but common sense says that it will soon be covered with wind-blown material, that people will walk over it and make it illegible.

But the accusers are blind to this visual answer and life lesson. They insist that Jesus talk to them.  His answer: "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her," as well as His return to his blackboard on the ground, brings understanding.  He writes adultery, self-righteousness, mercilessness, cunningness and...and.. in sand and never engraves it in stone.  His love for people has no other way but to find expression in grace and forgiveness.

Jesus connects masterly with accusers and accused.  He exposes nobody but addresses their consciences with His words; the writing on the ground silently communicates that He stands ready to erase all self-righteousness.

To the woman he says: "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." He not only erases every transgression, but gives her a second chance - one where she can start over, but with responsibility - she must stop sinning (v11).

Maybe you are the accused awaiting the verdict from people. Remember then, your transgressions are not engraved in stone, but are written in sand. Jesus wants to write over it: Forgiven!

Or maybe you are the Pharisee or Scribe that easily sees the speck of sawdust in someone else's eye and pays no attention to the plank in your own eye. To you Jesus says, "Throw the first stone.....but only if you have no plank in your own eye."

Grace is, after all, love that cares, that stoops down and saves.

Prayer: My Father, too often I mercilessly drag people before my self-righteous judicial bench, while I am blind to what is written in sand about me.  If I do this again, open the eyes of my heart, so that I can see Your erasure marks over my transgressions as a reminder that I also need to show mercy. Amen