Scripture Scribbles: April 3, 2022

the Gospel

John 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
‘Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?’
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
‘Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.’
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
‘Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?’
She replied, ‘No one, sir.’
Then Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.’

the devotion

Have you ever struggled with feelings of guilt and shame?

I’m sure most of us have at some point in our lives. It is an uncomfortable and painful place to be in. Shame and guilt are powerful and destructive tactics of the enemy. The evil one uses these traps to keep us isolated, to keep us down on ourselves, and ultimately to keep us away from the loving and merciful embrace of our heavenly Father. The Lord desires freedom and life for us. He can and will set us free from these traps when we turn to Him.

We will not judge the scribes and Pharisees, but we can imagine how their actions may have heightened the shame that this woman is feeling. She has literally been caught in the act of adultery and now forced to stand in the middle of the crowded temple area. Her sins are brought to the light for so many to see. Can you imagine what she may be thinking and feeling as they await the response of the Teacher? Let’s us look closely at Jesus and how He responds…

Initially, Jesus does not reply, but rather bends down and writes in the sand. When they question Him for the second time if they should stone the woman, His response takes them by surprise: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Here Jesus reminds us that we are all sinners; we have all turned away from God at one time or another. But the story does not end there! Yes, we are guilty of sin, but the love of God is unconditional and all merciful! Our sin does not define us – we belong to God and our deepest identity is being His children. More than anything, Jesus wants to restore us to life with God our Father. Do not let feelings of guilt and shame keep us from the light. Let the times we fall be opportunities to run even faster into the loving embrace of Jesus.

Picture the scene – Jesus is still kneeling down from writing on the ground and the sinful woman is standing before Him. She may be expecting reprimand and condemnation, but is instead met with the ultimate tenderness and compassion. Let us recall this gaze of Jesus the next time we are tempted to hide in shame and guilt because of our sin.

He has only love and mercy for us.

Today’s devotion is written by Kaitlin Gilday.