The Way
Those Who Put Down Their Stones
The feast where he cried out for living water, and the words he wrote in the dust
Story
As the Feast of Tabernacles drew near, Jerusalem filled with shelters woven from branches, and with pilgrims. It was a time when even his own brothers did not believe in him. Jesus went up quietly, without being seen, and when the feast was in full swing he appeared in the temple and began to teach. On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out in a loud voice. Anyone who is thirsty, come to me and drink.
The temple guards who had gone to arrest him came back empty handed. No one has ever spoken the way this man speaks. Early the next morning, as Jesus sat teaching in the temple courts, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees dragged before him a woman caught in adultery and stood her in the middle. Teacher, in the law Moses told us to stone such women. What do you say?
Jesus said nothing. He bent down and wrote something on the ground with his finger. When they kept pressing him, he straightened up. Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone. And again he bent down and wrote on the ground. One by one they went away, the oldest first, until only Jesus and the woman were left. Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? No one, Lord. Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on sin no more.
Walk this scene on the map →His Words
If there is anyone among you who has no sin, let that person be the first to throw a stone at her.
Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on sin no more.
Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. From the one who believes in me, living water will flow like a river.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Jn 7:1–8:11
Background
The story of the woman caught in adultery, John 7:53 to 8:11, is missing from the earliest manuscripts. But it is regarded as an ancient tradition and appears in most Bibles, often set off with brackets or a note.
Pause and Reflect
Do I see others' faults as big while going easy on my own sin?