Is. 43:16-21; Phil. 3:8-14; Jn. 8:1-11
We find ourselves today before one of the most powerful and dramatic moments in the Gospels: a public accusation, a woman in shame, an angry crowd, and Jesus writing in the dust. The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. It is a trap, not just for the woman, but for Jesus himself. Will he uphold the law of Moses and permit stoning? Or will he preach mercy and be accused of breaking the law?
But Jesus, as always, turns the entire moment inward: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” With these words, He disarms not only the stones in their hands, but the stones in their hearts.
This passage teaches us about mercy over judgment, humility over hypocrisy, and introspection over accusation. And it is incredibly relevant to our modern lives, where blaming others has become a form of self-defense, a disguise for our own shortcomings.