John 8:6 (TPT) They were only testing Jesus because they hoped to trap him with his own words and accuse him of breaking the laws of Moses. But Jesus didn’t answer them. Instead he simply bent down and wrote in the dust with his finger.
I love that he didn’t turn to the evil accusers.
John 8:7-8 (TPT) Angry, they kept insisting that he answer their question, so Jesus stood up and looked at them and said, “Let’s have the man who has never had a sinful desire throw the first stone at her.” And then he bent over again and wrote some more words in the dust.
John 8:8 Footnote: See Jer. 17:13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water. Jesus wrote in the dust to fulfill Jeremiah’s prophecy that those who forsake God (spiritual adultery) will be written in the dust. All of the accusers were guilty of having forsaken God, the fountain of living water, and yet were so anxious to stone this woman to death. The same finger that wrote the Ten Commandments in stone also wrote the names of each of the accusers, or perhaps he wrote Jer. 17:13 in the dirt in front of their eyes, pointing to their hypocrisy.
I believe whatever he was writing was with his focus on the hearts of the accusers not the actions of the woman.
John 8:9 (TPT) Upon hearing that, her accusers slowly left the crowd one at a time, beginning with the oldest to the youngest, with a convicted conscience.
When I accuse another – judge – I am welcoming Jesus’ response to my heart first – it is His way – He sees – He knows – but He is more interested in my heart than the spew of stuff.
I am called to pray.
I am called to love.
I am called to be still and know that I AM God.
This shows me again His heart set on truth. Judging is not His heart for me. How did I differ from these arrogant ones when I set myself as accuser? Lord, I choose not to accuse – help me Lord to be filled with your love and compassion. Help me to rest my eyes and mind. Help me to love. Help me to love Lord. I want to be your peace and joy and love and pour out your grace and show your mercy. Show me your way in this Lord.
You were so disinterested in what the accusers were interested in. You went straight to their hearts. The woman did not get your mind or attention until she was yours – she was with you and called you Lord. How different your reaction – she was familiar with scorn and condemnation and judgment and ridicule, and you didn’t display any of that toward her. Your focus was solely on the “most holy” of the day, measured by their head knowledge of the law – they were held up in that time as the holiest of holies and yet – who was the man that was with her and how did they catch her in the act? What planning, conniving, focus on evil and deceit was happening to get them to that moment? And after all –
John 8:10-11(TPT) Until finally, Jesus was left alone with the woman still standing there in front of him. So he stood back up and said to her, “Dear woman, where are your accusers? Is there no one here to condemn you?”
Looking around, she replied, “I see no one, Lord.”
Jesus said, “Then I certainly don’t condemn you either. Go, and from now on, be free from a life of sin.” (Footnote: The Aramaic is “Neither do I put you down” (or, “oppress you”). The Torah required two witnesses. There were none left!)
Wow Lord – never before had anyone spoken such truth. She was a tramp – always a tramp – scoffed and ridiculed – but your way was truth – with love – Dear Woman – no one said that to her. Lord, your truth is life. Your way is upside down and inside out – the accusers expected your reaction where they were headed – to condemnation and death by stoning – not truth and life and love – you made a way in a dark place to bring love. Lord, I want that in me. I want your way. Your peace. Your truth. You Lord. Show me your way.
God (G) – When you focus on another I get to see where you are. It is not a trap. It is the truth. Keep opening your heart to me. I want to knead it and make it into the rock you stand on. Me in you. The stone hard, unchangeable is not your way. You are tender, sensitive, caring, concerned and loving. Let me keep kneading. We can do this. We can knead to need. I need you to pray. That’s it period. I need you to wait on me. I need you to love and bless and pour out understanding, your tender heart is on purpose for me. We can do this. Be still and know I AM God – that means I AM. I can do it. I can make a way in all circumstances. I can make a way. Rest knowing I see and know more than you – it is true. I need you to pray. This keeps your heart tender. It keeps your heart with me. Be brutally honest with Me. You do not need to candy coat, sugar coat, grace coat, love coat. Just be naked. I want all your thoughts, feelings, hurts, concerns, questions, ideas, languages. I want it all. And then we can move. I want your first choice to be me. I want it all – whatever you want to say – say it. It is ok. I want it all. There is no judgment. No condemnation. It is the way you grow in me. It is the way I get to reach in and pluck out the nasty, vulgar, hurting, angry, somber, wounded places. Unload and watch and see what we can do together. Do not dress up, hold out, pretty up, clean up or censor – let’s just be and watch and see. Every time we can get to love and pray. Test me – I know. This is true. Every time. But I want all the stuff – I want all the hoarded, hidden, barren, broken, bleeding, bloodied, bruised, banished. I want it all emptied daily. Emptied whenever it comes up. Speak it. Write it. Think it and give it to me. This is my way. I want it all.
Beth (B) – Your way Lord – How is this? How different?
G – Stop thinking you need to do, be – stop – just be still and know I AM God. Be free. So much thought and heavy – reveal it. Let me refresh the places that bind you –
B – Yes Lord.
Excerpt from Loving and Faithful