This Woman

Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say? 

John 8:3-5 

How do we gain perspective? One of the ways we do so, is by viewing things from another person’s position. How would I feel if this was me? In the passage from which our text derives there are at least four points of view: the woman’s, the accuser’s, Christ’s, and the crowd’s. If we consider these views by turns, we may find we identify with each view in one way or another. If we begin with the woman, we may quickly find how we identify with her. Her accuser’s dragged her into the temple where Christ was teaching a large group of people. Without courtesy or ceremony, they deposited her in the midst of the crowd and before Christ. Our text describes the essence of the situation. How would the woman have felt? Certainly she would have been experiencing guilt, shame, embarrassment, and fear, perhaps even terror. If we are honest with ourselves, here is someone with whom we can readily identify. If the secrets of our lives were publicly broadcast and the consequences were imminent, we would feel exactly as she did. We are all as guilty as she was. For this guilt, Christ is the answer.  

Our Wise and Holy God, 
we rejoice that You show us ourselves in Your Word. 
We praise You that we see, not only our own sin, 
but also Your grace.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning