I am on my final trip through the Gospels for 2009.  Beginning January 1 I will be joining other folks from OVCF in their trip through the One Year Bible (ESV). Today I was reading from John 8 and even though I am told that the first 11 verses were not included in the original manuscripts, I am glad it is here.  I am always intrigued by the encounter of Jesus-not so much with the religious leaders-but with the woman who is caught in adultery.   Why am I glad that it is included?  Several reasons actually: the biggest being that is me… An-n-n-n-n-d that is you.  In a very real way the woman is a picture of us all.  Caught in her sin, the self-righteous religious leaders bring her before Jesus.  (As a side: I have always wondered what happened to the man she was caught with).  Anyway, they expected Jesus to rip her apart, to stand with them in their condemnation.  ‘Course it is a Catch 22 Jesus is in.  If he sides with them, he goes against the love He has taught.  If He sides with her then He is going against the teaching of the Torah.  Gotcha!  Or so they think.  But Jesus throws them a curve ball.  He begins to write in the sand.  Like most people I am curious what He wrote.  Did He write their names with sins listed next to it?  Did He write certain sins that He knew they were guilty of and as He called them out did they walk away?  “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” When He is done the men are gone and the only one left standing is the woman and the Man who can change her.  “Woman, where are your accusers?” “Gone.” “I don’t condemn you either.  Go and sin no more.”

Does that give you a lump in your throat?  It does me.  I am that woman (okay I am that man).  My sin is real and common.  My sin is blatant and yet often hidden (to man’s eyes).  My sin deserves punishment, stoning, condemnation.  But thanks to the One who writes in the sand, my sin is also gone and forgiven.  Whether than sin is adultery or idolatry; crude language or gossip; lust or an addiction to porn/alcohol/drugs; laziness or busyness; anger or apathy; or (you name it),  I need the writing in the sand…you need the writing in the sand.  I am taking some poetic license here but I want to believe that when Jesus was done He took his foot and swiped it back and forth over the list in the sand and wiped them all out.  Just like He does my sin.  Just like He does yours.

This writing in the sand applies to both those who have never accepted the Lordship of Jesus in their life initially and also to those who once made that decision to cross the line of faith but chose to go their own way.   If you have never come to Jesus I do hope you will investigate the claims of Jesus and  eventually come to place your faith in Him.  If you have any questions about that please feel free to email me personally.  If you have already crossed the line of faith but find your life a bunch of wrong choices, then it is never too late to experience the words, “I forgive you.  I don’t condemn you.  Go and sin no more.”   May you experience God’s writing in the sand.

Where do you stand?  I would like to hear your thoughts.