"Writing on the Sand..." - Daily Word #46

Today I'd like to turn our eyes to John 8:4-11 (NLT) with the story about a Woman Caught in Adultery.

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”. They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. Source

Source

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Source

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” Source

Of all the things that Jesus did, why did He write on the sand?

There are many possible reasons for that, here are three;

1. He wanted to align everyone back to the sand. As dust we came, dust we shall return. So no one is greater or better.

2. He wanted to show that He alone is God, the Judge -- who has written on stone tablet in the past (e.g. - the law against adultery), He is also the God of the present (adultery already happens when we lust). So no one is free from sin.

3. He wanted to warn them that their names will not be in the Book of Life but only on sand/earth, if they continued their wicked ways. So no one who forsakes the living waters will be accepted.

Look at Jeremiah 17:13 (KJV)

O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters. Source

Men desired to be the judge and condemn others with the law. God (Jesus) came to show them that it cannot be accomplished by just doing works or observing the laws. We can only come to God and enter in by His Grace and His Blood.

And best of all, for the sinner (the woman who committed adultery), God said "I do not condemn you (I do not reject you), but Go Sin, No More!"

Source

God is a Merciful God, His Forgiveness and Grace is extensive, but it requires us to soften our hearts and turn back to Him. And it requires us to turn away from all of our wicked ways, our sins!

He desires to receive you back to Himself. Will you return to the Lord today?

Blessings & Shalom.

SG

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