Me:  What does that stone say Prodigal?

Prodigal:  He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her

Me:  That is very good scripture there, Prodigal!

Prodigal:  What parable is connected with that?

 

Today I will share this scripture explained by Peter Marshall

 

…The woman lies before Christ in a huddled heap, sobbing bitterly…..

shivering as she listens to the indictment.

The penalty for adultery is stoning.

Jesus’ steady eyes take in the situation at a glance.

He sees what they try to hide from Him—

the hard faces that have no mercy or pity.

Every hand holds a stone and clutching fingers run along the sharp edges with malicious satisfaction.

They have brought the woman to Christ as a vindictive afterthought, not for formal trial,

(for they have already tried her)

but in a bold effort to trap Him.

Either He will have to set aside the plain commandment

of the law, or tacitly consent to a public execution….

And has He not said often, “Be ye therefore merciful”

How can he condemn the woman and still be merciful?

The circle of bearded men wait impatiently for His answer….

Christ looks into the faces of the men before Him, and steadily–with eyes that never blink–he speaks them:

“He that is without sin among you,

let him first cast a stone at her.”

His keen glance rests upon the woman’s accusers one by one….

There is the thud of stone after stone falling on the pavement.

Not many of the Pharisees are left now.

Looking into their faces Christ sees into the yesterdays that lie deep in the pools of memory and conscience.

He sees into their very hearts…

Idolater…..

Liar….

Drunkard…

Murderer…..

Adulterer….

One by one, they creep away–like animals–slinking into the shadows…

Shuffling off into the crowded streets to lose themselves in the multitudes.

“He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.”

But no stones have been thrown.

They lie around the woman on the pavement.

She alone is left at the feet of Christ.

The stillness is broken only by her sobbing.

She still has not lifted her head….

And now Christ looks at her.

He does not speak for a long moment.

Then, with eyes full of understanding, He says softly:

“Woman, where are those thine accusers?

Hath no man condemned thee?”

And she answers,

“No man, Lord.”

That is all the woman says from beginning to end.

She has no excuse for her conduct.

She makes no attempt to justify what she has done.

And Christ looking at her, seeing the tear-stained cheeks,

seeing further into her heart,

seeing the contrition there,

says to her, “Neither do I condemn thee:

go, and sin no more….”

And His voice is like a candle at twilight,

like a soft angels at the close of the day…..

like the singing of a bird after the storm…

It is healing music for the sin-sick heart.

All is quiet for a while.

If she breathes her gratitude, it is so soft that only

He hears it.

Perhaps He smiles upon her, as she slowly raises her eyes,

a slow, sad smile of one who knows that He Himself

has to pay the price for that absolution…..

She has looked into the eyes of Christ.

She has seen God.

She has been accused

convicted

judged but not condemned.

She has been forgiven!

And now her head is up.

Her eyes are shining like stars, for has she not seen

the greatest miracle of all?

It is more wonderful than the miracles of creation….

more mysterious than the stars…

more melodious than any symphony….

more wonderful than life itself….

that God is willing, for Christ’s sake, to forgive sinners

like you and me….

 

 

John 8:7

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.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.faithincounseling.org

www.theprodigalpig.com