Wednesday 17 February 2010
- Bible Book:
- John
"They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, 'Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'" (v.6-7)
Background
When the scribes and Pharisees placed the unnamed woman in frontof Jesus he was in an invidious position. If he colluded with thecalls for stoning he would lose forever the title 'friend ofsinners'. If he showed mercy he could be seen to condoneimmorality. He was literally caught between a rock and a hardplace. Most of us know ourselves moments when it seems impossibleto find the right answer.
What is so striking in this passage are the numerous references toJesus' body language. "He sat down and began to teach ... bent downand wrote with his finger ... straightened up ... and once again hebent down ... [and then] he straightened up." It is like adirector's note for a company of actors! The Gospel-writer Johnseems to be telling us that body language and posture are highlyimportant in this story. Maybe you could get some friends togetherand act out the story to tease out some of the hidden messagescontained within Jesus' non-verbal communication.
There has been much conjecture about quite what Jesus wrote in thesand with his finger. The truth is that we don't know. But it doestell us something very important - that Jesus could write. Was hebuying time? Was he averting his eyes away from the accusers? Didhe write something from the Old Testament that tempered
This incident occurred in the Temple grounds. It was a place ofmeeting, commerce and most important a place of worship. And tothis holy place the interests of grace and law competed fordominance. Jesus' response cuts through the shallow interests ofthe self-righteous and shamed those who would manipulate religionfor their own ends.
His response is full of grace, light and truth. He offers libertybut not license. He gives freedom but expects fidelity.
To Ponder
Can you think of times when you have foundyourself in tight corners? How did you cope? Did talking with atrusted friend shed light on the situation?
If Jesus could write, why didn't he write abook?
Why did Jesus stoop down? How conscious are youof your body language?