Daily Wisdom

“But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.” Jn 8:6

A fascinating and intriguing scripture, what clue would it give to the thoughts of Jesus?  The Pharisees brought before Jesus a women caught in adultery and demanded, “Jesus, what do you say now?”  Silence, scripture states, “Jesus wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.” While the bible does not record Jesus’ writings, we are only left to wonder, maybe He wrote scripture.  Perhaps he was writing the man’s name involved, does not adultery require two? Or maybe He was writing the sins of the Pharisees who were accusing the women? Could be Jesus was just gathering His thoughts as being angry they were humiliating this women just to get at Him? While we have no knowledge, I believe we can make a strong case for the silence.  His heart was breaking, looking at the Pharisees and realizing, they do not get it!  While Jesus had the authority and just cause to rebuke them, instead Jesus could be stating: You don’t get it; I came not to judge, but “to seek and to save that which is lost.” Lk 19:10.  Jesus, in amazing display of compassion and self-control for the whole, finally stood Himself and states: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (vs 7).  Interestingly, Jesus returns knelt to the ground placing Him beside the women as to experience/share her humiliation.  Realizing at this point they were subject to the same judgment as the one they accused, they became convicted by their own conscience and drifted away.  Jesus had no interest in judging or convicting anyone of their sins, but instead desiring they would understand their self-need, as well as others, for the saviour. We are not called, nor have the right, to judge others, but instead we are called through compassion to make a difference (Jude 22).  Consider, one cannot judge someone and love them at the same time.

Judging another person does not define who they are, but, only who you are!

HSAY…Todd