When you catch a woman in adultery

Reflection

A poor woman was brought before. Jesus. She had just been caught in adultery. When I think of this story I think of the humiliation of the women I visit with in the county jail. I'm challenged to not condemn because I know of my own sinfulness.

Scripture

John
Chapter: 8


  ¹but Jesus walked out to the Mount of Olives.   ²Then early the next morning he went to the temple. The people came to him, and he sat down and started teaching them. 
³The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn't her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd.   ⁴Then they said, "Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn't her husband.   ⁵The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?" 
⁶They asked Jesus this question, because they wanted to test him and bring some charge against him. But Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger. 
⁷They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, "If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!"   ⁸Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground.   ⁹The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone. 
¹⁰Jesus stood up and asked her, "Where is everyone? Isn't there anyone left to accuse you?" 
¹¹"No sir," the woman answered.
Then Jesus told her, "I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don't sin anymore."

Prayer

Lord, I can be so quick to Judie.  You tell us not to do that.  Sometimes we have to make judgments, but it’s the judgments that condemn that you are opposed it.  Help me to be more humble – that is honest with who I am with all my sins.  Let me rest in your love.  In that security I’ll be able to judge less.  Amen.