Writing on The Rock

Writing on The Rock
Originally uploaded by throughmylenses.

I took this picture a while back with some friends in Laguna Beach. It is actually published in a lit. journal, I know it's kinda exciting. So as I look at this picture it reminds me of when a group of religious leaders back in Jesus day brought a women caught in adultery to him (found in John 8). These religious leaders were really good at the rules, or so they thought. When they bring this women to him they are trying to trap him into breaking the law or going back on other things they think he has said. They say to him "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They want Jesus to say something that they can use against him. But Jesus doesn't have it.
He doesn't say anything, he just starts writing on the ground. We don't know what he is writing on the ground, John leaves this out. It was common for a rabbi to teach while sitting down on the ground. Some believe he was doodling, others believe he was writing out their sins and others passages from scripture. What he is writing is irrelevant to the issue. They continue to bug him and he responds to the with an interesting proposal. "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
At this one by one the people walk away. Starting with the oldest, they have the most sin, and right on down till only Jesus and the women are left. For the first time in this story the women is addressed by Jesus and they have a conversation that will change her life. ""Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
The only person who has the right to condemn this women to death is the one who is standing before her and he does not. This text brings up some interesting thoughts in my head. Some questions for reflection. How often do we hold on to sins of the past? Either others or our own. How often do we allow our accusers to bring us down?
The truth of the matter is that we who have entered into right relationship with Christ have been forgiven. We simply need to walk in this truth. Walking in this truth means that we go on in light of our forgiveness. We who have been forgiven need to forgive. We also need to walk away from our sin, like she did that day. May we all have the strength to walk away from our sins.