John 8:2-11, from the NRSV version of the Bible
At dawn Jesus appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered round 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.”
1 comment:
Jesus's writing in the dirt in this passage is very mysterious. On this reading I see it as a prayer. Jesus is in a difficult, threatening situation, and he remembers to pray. Rather than relying upon himself to come up with all the answers, he turns toward God. This passage gives us a physical image of him praying; we can see him in our mind's eye calmly writing.
Dear God, help us to remember to turn towards you for help when we are confused and threatened.
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