The Celtic Christian: At times we are the accusers, at times the accused

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

This morning on the way to work I was listening to the story of a woman caught in adultery on my audio Bible:

  But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 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. 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.

  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. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," she said.
   "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:1-11)

I have always been drawn to this story for its theme of forgiveness and for the way it sheds light on judging others (not unlike Jesus telling us to remove the plank from our own eye in Matthew 7:3-5).

I would love to know what Jesus was writing on the ground. In my mind I can see him writing two columns: the first, a list of names - the names of her accusers; the second, a list of random sins - and then He playfully starts to draw lines connecting the first column to the second as he says "If any of you is without sin ...".

I am also intrigued that we are told that the older ones were the first to leave. I know the older I get the more aware I am of my own failings and weaknesses. When I was younger, I was invincible of course, not to mention always right. (Now I am only usually right!). It appears that human nature has not changed much in 2000 years.

Having dealt with her accusers, Jesus now addresses the woman: "Go now and leave your life of sin." At times we are the accusers, at times the accused. We must learn from the lessons Jesus taught to both.

Amazing grace and peace that surpasses all understanding be yours today,

Bruce

Father of mercy, like the prodigal son I return to You and say: "I have sinned against you and am no longer worthy to be called your son."

Christ Jesus, Savior of the world, I pray with the repentant thief to whom You promised Paradise: "Lord, remember me in Your kingdom."

Holy Spirit, fountain of love, I call on You with trust: "Purify my heart, and help me to walk as a child of light."