*The following devotional was inspired by bestselling speaker and writer, Liz Curtis Higgs, who I had the great fortune of hearing speak this past weekend at the Northwestern Christian Writers Conference.
Reading for today: John 8:1-11
The law only required two or three witnesses to charge an offender. They wanted the whole town to see.
In a case like this, both the transgressing man and woman should be brought forward. They only brought the woman.
“Teacher,” the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do you say?”
If Jesus had answered, “Stone her,” then all his teachings on mercy and grace go out the door.
If Jesus had answered, “Don’t stone her,” he discredits the Law of Moses and himself.
So what does Jesus do?
As the crowd watches silently and the disgraced woman waits fearfully, Jesus stoops down to write in the dirt. What did he write?
Some people say that a judge would write down his sentence before pronouncing it. Or maybe he was simply diverting the eyes of the people, saving the humiliated woman from their condemning stares. Maybe he was giving everyone time to think. Whatever he was writing, it took awhile because those around him had to keep asking for a verdict.
Instead of a verdict, Jesus called the question. “Let him who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone.” Silence. Nothing but the sound of unused stones dropping to the ground. Then, one by one and without a word, they walked away, convicted.
The only one who was without sin, the only one who had the right to condemn the woman, Jesus stood quietly before her. And he without a stone in his hand.
Dear God, How is it that You have not condemned me? In my shame and in my disgrace, You offer me forgiveness, hope, and salvation. Give me the power to accept Your grace and to go and sin no more. Amen.
Day 2 – John 3:16-17
Day 3 – Romans 8:1-6
Day 4 – Romans 3:22-24
Day 5 – 1 John 2:15-17
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