Some interactions in life leave no gray area in which to linger, the side you take is either yes or no, all in or all out, or black or white. What side is Jesus going to take in John 8? Here John records the story of a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. She must have been terrified as she was brought before Jesus by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.

The woman stands before Jesus, Jesus is seated (as was customary for the Rabbis) Like a Judge behind His bench while the accused stands humbled before him, so was the scene. The Pharisees had constructed the perfect set up to trap Jesus. Awaiting a verdict the woman most surely believes she will be condemned. Then Jesus did something unexpected… he bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger.

While we don’t know what he wrote, it becomes obvious that the dust has become Jesus whiteboard as he pointedly communicates to those standing around either through letters in the dirt or body language. After rising to stand the first time, Jesus responds to the continued questioning of those standing as witnesses with a proposition: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first stone to cast a stone at her,” then He again stoops and writes once again with His finger in the dust.
Maybe John (our Gospel writer) wasn’t close enough to Jesus to see what Jesus had written. Maybe the dusty message was not the main point of the gospel record. As the story unfolds though we see that Jesus didn’t void the law, nor did He use it to gain a brief boost in popular opinion. John sees the point Jesus is making and skillfully captures it in His account of the event. Jesus stopped the automated systemic application of Jewish law for personal or institutional gain.

By this time in Jewish history the application of penile penalty in some ways resembled the sacrifices made for removal of sin, both sacrificing and law keeping had lost it’s heart. Purchase a lamb, see to it’s sacrifice, apply the law to the perpetrator and walk away, very systematic.

Jesus however, slowed the prosecution train down long enough for the accusers to see that the perpetrator was a person. Jesus took the risk to lead with love, in so doing he fulfilled the entire law. Jesus loved his neighbor as himself and taught the teachers of the law to do the same.

Like the Pharisees, I suppose we too can systematize our faith to the point where we miss the point.

Jesus, rescue us from our tendency to find easier ways to grow in You.
Jesus, save us from our belief that we can save ourselves.
Jesus, lead us in loving people as you do.

Hymn
Jesus, keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain. Free to all the healing stream, flows from Calvary’s mountain.