From Gary... A sign that matters

Sin, for many of us, it is an uncomfortable word. What will others think or do if admit that we have sinned? Well, you really can't control what others think, but as far as Jesus is concerned, I think you can count on consideration. Here is why I say this...

John, Chapter 8 (WEB)

 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them.  3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, 4 they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.  5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?”  6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. 

But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them,“He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.”   8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 

  9  They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?” 

  11  She said, “No one, Lord.” 

Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.” 

Jesus' adversaries (the scribes and Pharisees) tried to trick him into an "incorrect" judgment concerning a woman caught in the act of adultery. He, however, did not respond as they expected- he simply bent down and wrote on the ground and then challenged them with their own sin. Of course, no one was able to stone her and soon only the two remained.  He did not condemn her, but simply told her to go her way and to sin no more. Why didn't Jesus condemn her? Frankly, I do not know- the text doesn't say.  But, maybe it had something to do with that unknown something that Jesus wrote on the ground? What I do like about this whole situation is that he is not vindictive or unnecessarily harsh with her- he just tells her to sin no more.  Now, that is the sort of friend that I want!!! How about you?