Don't let me get me ... (John 8:1-11)

Whom was Jesus protecting and/or defending when he said: "Let him who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her"? (John 8:7).  The obvious answer would be: the "woman taken in adultery", right?  I think, however, we could dig a little deeper, and perhaps discover other people who might have been in the mind of Jesus.

It is important to first establish that the scene does not seek to justify sin. In fact, sin is identified, and discipline is applied.  By telling the women, "sin no more", is not only sin identified, but also discipline applied (not condemning does not means there was no discipline).  Also, by writing on the ground, Jesus identifies the sins of the accusers.

Who is Jesus protecting? According to the law revealed by God (Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:21-24), which establishes the punishment for adultery, Jesus finds a formula that potentially would preserve the life of the woman; she can be stoned still, only if the prosecutors are willing to also receive their fair punishment for their sins as stipulated by the law.  The Bible testifies that one by one of the accusers received the gift of conviction of sin (John 16:8); by not condemning the woman, they are not condemned.

Who was Jesus protecting when he wrote on the ground? Yes, the woman, but, was not Jesus also protecting the

scribes and Pharisees? By releasing the woman they were being covered with the same blanket of mercy with which Jesus was covering the woman, don't you think? Jesus was protecting them from themselves.

Understanding our nature, and foreseeing our salvation, Jesus, being merciful but also fair and just, insist that we place ourselves within reach of his saving power by (Luke 6:36-38):

• "be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful"
• "judge not, and you shall not be judged"
• "Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned"
• "Forgive, and you will be forgiven"
• "Give, and it will be given to you"
• "with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you"

In Scripture is a constant, while we foolishly insist to lose our souls, Jesus insists, above our folly, to save us (Romans 5:20).