John 8 : 7
It’s the all familiar story of the woman cast at Jesus feet.
*** The following is a copy of the email conversation between a Pastor friend and myself. This was my answer to his comment on my blog “One bite or two” He said so true and gave me the verse in John.***
Can’t you just hear the stones hitting the dirt right about then… Today it would be a bible and if your Baptist , a hymnal… (I would pay good money to see that happen in a Baptist Church) For anyone thinking I am condemning Baptist, I am not. I was raised a Baptist Preachers daughter so I’m speaking out of my own experiences. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about don’t even try to say you don’t…
I love this verse because Jesus is right in the middle of a sermon and all of sudden here come some self righteous zealots who throw a naked woman in front Him & everybody else. You see she was caught in the very act. You know they didn’t let her get dressed. Don’t you know their was some sweating going on round there… Men peeking thru half closed eyelids, wives glaring at said man with half closed eyelids. Then there’s Jesus stooping down calmly as if He’s five and He’s drawing in the dirt. Now fast forward to 2013 and Ray Stevens squirrel just went way down the list of church ruckus’ top ten singles. I know that must have been a scene and a made for TV reality show that would make some folks very, very happy.
There has been much speculation as to what Jesus wrote that day and somebody is probably dead right about it. Me, I think he wrote the name of the Pharisee (s) she was “caught” in the very act with. I mean come on you can’t tango all by yourself. So back to my rambling thought: there she is exposed and shivering, all around people staring with bated breath, eyes running back and forth from the Pharisee to Jesus thinking something’s going down and I’ve got front row seats. Won’t pa be mad he didn’t come. I told him it would be good. Here they were live and in living color and they couldn’t wait to see it. Finally the real “Jesus” would show Himself. They call Him the Messiah and now He’s going to bring it on, fire is going to fall and I’m going to see it. The Pharisees sure thought they had a real deal scandal Jesus would have to answer to. Boy were they surprised at what came next.
Funny how something so very simple as writing in the dirt can change what was sure to be a stoning, into unused stones dropping like rain on a dusty desert floor. Imagine this the scene now… Then there’s Jesus calmly waiting for their tirade to end. As each spectator waited in breathless wonder, speculating in hushed tones as to what the teacher was writing in the dirt, Jesus calmly but with authority says “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.” I can hear the gasp of the crowd and the see the burning ears of the Pharisees as they slowly begin to drop their stones. One by one they file away because this man had caught them, the “keepers” of the “law”, at their own game…again I might add. He caught them and He tried them in one simple sentence. He used their own law against them Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Again their prophet said in Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
What came next was a shocker to all because it still sends shock waves to this day to self righteous people all over the world. Jesus with love written on His face and oozing like tears through His crystal clear eyes ask her calmly, woman (I love this He did not expose her by calling her by her name) woman where are your accusers? How many times can we say we have done the same. We rather like a good lynching so forgiving is out of the question. Jesus our kind, compassionate, faithful & loving God in flesh, answered when she said Lord, crying His name Lord I have none. He said, and it still resounds through time today… “neither do I condemn thee… Go and sin no more.” Wow the very idea of looking Jesus face to face and hearing Him say that sends chills up and down my spine.
I have heard Him say many times in darkest of hours of despair, Yes I love you with all my heart! Wow
Happy dancing on satans head!
Yep this would have been a dozy of a reality show back in the day!]
In Christ I’m Hidden!
Shawn
Searching Gods Heart 