Writing on the Ground

                                                                                                                                  

Aloha Dearest Family,

 

                In the Gospel of John chapter 8, we read about Jesus and the woman caught in the act of adultery.

                “And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what said thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.” (John 8:3-6)

There has been much discussion over the years about what Jesus wrote on the ground. Many have said that he wrote out the Ten Commandments and others have had other theories. But by reading the record, there is no indication that what he wrote had any impact on the religious leaders whatsoever because they kept asking him to give an answer.

               

            To understand this record we must first ask ourselves, why did they bring this woman to Jesus? These religious leaders were trying every way possible to “trap’ Jesus in his words so that they might accuse him. They knew full well what the law said should be done with this woman. (The law of Moses actually required that both the man and the woman should be brought, but these religious leaders cared nothing about the law of Moses. All they were concerned with was trying to trap Jesus). Jesus knew the law and he knew WHY they had brought her. Jesus had a wealth of knowledge of the Old Testament law at his disposal. He could have easily given them the proper “legal” answer, but this would not address their motivation and their hard-heartedness. What he would say next would have to cut them to the quick.

               

Jesus and his Father           

     We have to always keep in mind that Jesus never did or said anything that he did not first receive from his Father.

                “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30)

A constant theme in John’s Gospel is that fact that Jesus always did the Father’s Will and he ONLY spoke what his Father wanted him to speak.

                “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” (John 12:49)

                So what did Jesus write on the ground?

 

Receiving Revelation

                As it has been stated, Jesus only spoke what his Father revealed to him to speak. In this case, as in all cases, he must have asked the Father what to answer these men. When waiting for revelation from God, many occupy themselves with a mundane activity such as walking, jogging, housework or even doodling while they are waiting for God’s answer. I remember once receiving an answer from God while I was driving to work one day. Another time I received an answer from God while I was vacuuming a carpet. In the case of this record, Jesus wrote on the ground to occupy himself (perhaps doodling) while he waited for God’s answer as to what to answer these men. He continued to write on the ground and they continued to ask him until God finally gave him the answer.

                “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.“ (Verse 7) 

 

This response from Jesus stopped them in their tracks. This was the perfect answer. Jesus had delivered the answer directly from his Father. He then waited for these words to have their effect.

                “And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (Verses 8-11)     

 

This record teaches us a ton of stuff. First it shows us the hypocrisy and hard-heartedness of the religiously leaders who were desperate to trap and accuse Jesus. It also shows the love and mercy that Jesus showed to this woman who had sinned and found forgiveness. But it also teaches us how Jesus continually relied upon and waited for revelation from his Father in everything that he both said and did. This is truly one of the secrets of his success.

 

                               Love Always, Ray