There are three women that Jesus had an interaction with while he walked this earth that just floor me. Ive been in awe of their hearts since I’ve read these stories for myself. I love that none of them have a book in the Bible named after them, in fact, none of their names were given at all. When I read their stories I am continually challenged by their humility, hunger, bravery, faith, trust, and love. Their encounters with Jesus reveal the heart of Papa so beautifully and inspire me to go deeper.
I thought of putting all of their stories in one blog but they are too profound …so this will be a three part blog.
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such a women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
John 8:1-11
She was probably naked, or very close to being so because she was caught in adultery. I don’t know if she resisted their dragging her before Jesus but regardless she stood before the crowd that had gathered to hear Jesus teach. I imagine that she was filled with shame and guilt …yet she didn’t say a word. She didn’t try to plead her case. They presented her before Jesus, shaming her with their words – exposing who she was and what she deserved…seeing her as filth. She didn’t beg Jesus to have mercy on her. She was ready to take the heat …probably preparing herself for death.
Jesus knew she had sinned but didn’t say a word to her….only by the provoking of those who condemned her did he finally say something and it wasn’t directed at her or her sin. He looked at the crowd and challenged their hearts and actions – not the woman’s. Without aggression he defended her and through this he displayed Papas heart.
He was willing to look at her and asked a question she was forced to answer…He spoke to her with dignity and respect. I picture the smile on his face as he said “Then neither do I condemn you” and imagine that those words carried the realization of his love for her.
She expected scorn and shame…expected death. Yet, she stood blameless before Jesus.
I believe she took what he said to heart and walked in freedom from that encounter. I believe that she was forever changed because she met her one true lover. I am inspired by this woman because I believe she never picked up that sin again. I love that she received his mercy. she may have come before him in shame but she walked away with humility. It took bravery to stand there without defending herself or pleading for her life. I love that her story was written.
Im amazed at the simplicity of Jesus here…his demeanor of calm authority. He wasn’t worried about someone else agenda… He was there to lavish his love on this woman, to set her free from herself and others. I love that he waited to speak to her until everyone else had left…there was to be no mistake who his words were directed towards- I think he wanted to look her in the eyes without an audience. Even then he was going after intimacy.
I feel for her and I’m trying so desperately to convey the volumes this speaks to me and I just don’t think I can. She blows me away. Ive always heard this story preached about with the focus of what Jesus may have written in the sand or about his grace, mercy and forgiveness and all of that is beautiful ….but I read this and I see a fierce woman, one created for a huge destiny …one strong enough to be exposed and then mended back together by the healer. If she could stand before the Son of God and a crowd of accusers so vulnerable and not completely crumble… it just makes me wonder what amazing Kingdom things she set out to do because of this moment.
