The Jewish contingent has an agenda in asking his opinion. This is a trap—a set up. They are hoping to trip him up and use his own words against him. But Jesus sees right through them. He crouches down as if he has not even heard their question and begins to write on the dusty temple floor with his finger. John 8:6 EFP
Other than the times in his pre-existent glory when Jesus wrote the Ten Commandments on the tables of stone in the Exodus story, this is the only record of Jesus writing anything. Those ten words of God written on stone were intended to endure the test of time. These words written on the ground are written for an entirely different reason and certainly not written to last beyond the present setting.
The assembled mob is ready to act. They have rocks in their hands and condemnation in their hearts. The woman lies on the ground prepared for her demise. She has no defense. She is guilty. The men have the law of the land on their side and they are prepared to mete out the deserved punishment. They are waiting for the word.
But Jesus is writing. He knows the stakes. On the one hand the Law of Moses intends to protect the sanctity of marriage and the image of God in his people. On the other hand a wayward, frightened, and trembling daughter of God awaits her impending death. Beyond that, Jesus knows he has been placed in the gauntlet between the Roman and the Mosaic laws—neither of which can be ignored without serious consequences with the authorities. But Jesus writes…
A new script is being written. Whatever it is he is writing on the ground changes everything for me today. I hope to ask Jesus someday what it is he wrote that day. I know the words that condemn me—they are written in stone and in the law of the land. Perhaps a truth that delivered the woman that day and frees me today was written and erased that day on the dusty floor of the temple.
Other than the times in his pre-existent glory when Jesus wrote the Ten Commandments on the tables of stone in the Exodus story, this is the only record of Jesus writing anything. Those ten words of God written on stone were intended to endure the test of time. These words written on the ground are written for an entirely different reason and certainly not written to last beyond the present setting.
The assembled mob is ready to act. They have rocks in their hands and condemnation in their hearts. The woman lies on the ground prepared for her demise. She has no defense. She is guilty. The men have the law of the land on their side and they are prepared to mete out the deserved punishment. They are waiting for the word.
But Jesus is writing. He knows the stakes. On the one hand the Law of Moses intends to protect the sanctity of marriage and the image of God in his people. On the other hand a wayward, frightened, and trembling daughter of God awaits her impending death. Beyond that, Jesus knows he has been placed in the gauntlet between the Roman and the Mosaic laws—neither of which can be ignored without serious consequences with the authorities. But Jesus writes…
A new script is being written. Whatever it is he is writing on the ground changes everything for me today. I hope to ask Jesus someday what it is he wrote that day. I know the words that condemn me—they are written in stone and in the law of the land. Perhaps a truth that delivered the woman that day and frees me today was written and erased that day on the dusty floor of the temple.
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