“He elevated Himself and remarked to them, He who is without transgression among you, let him cast the first stone at her” – John 8:7

The narrative of the unfaithful woman is one that resonates with us all. The woman was presented to Jesus by the Pharisees and accused of infidelity, “Rabbi” they addressed Jesus, “this woman was apprehended in the act of adultery. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such individuals should be stoned. However, what do You assert? ” Jesus uttered not a word but bent down to the earth as if He did not hear them and began to inscribe in the soil with His finger. . . What did He inscribe? …Was it their own transgressions that He was documenting before them? …Perhaps Jesus was contemplating the same question that many of us have, If she was caught in the act, where is the man?

Can you envision this woman crumpled and shattered before Jesus, charged with an offense that warrants execution, her fate now resting in the hands of a man she does not know? Would He sentence her to death as the crowd desired, or would this Man contravene the law that was delivered to Moses?

I am certain there was palpable tension as Jesus continued to inscribe in the dirt without addressing the inquiries of the Pharisees, “Rabbi, once more we pose the question, what shall we do? ” Jesus rose to His feet, faced the crowd, and proclaimed to them, “let him among you who has never sinned, cast the first stone at her. ” Jesus then bent down once more and resumed writing in the dirt. The woman must have been paralyzed with fear as she lay there broken and tensed, awaiting that first stone to strike her. Then came the silence that enveloped the crowd as they glanced at one another, awaiting to see who was capable of throwing that stone.

Feeling guilty in their own consciences, they began to release the stones they held, the clatter of the stones hitting the ground causing the woman to flinch in terror, fearing her punishment had commenced. However, one by one, her accusers began to depart until she and Jesus were the only ones remaining.

“Woman” Jesus addressed her, Where are those who accused you? Has no one condemned you?

She replied, “No one, Lord. ”

And Jesus said to her what He conveys to us each time we err and seek Him in repentance, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more. ”
The assembly approached Jesus, stones in hand, armed with evidence that the woman was guilty of the offense for which she had been accused; nevertheless, Jesus did not condemn her for her transgressions. As Christians, we are called to emulate Jesus, adhering to His directives, which entails acting in a manner that is pleasing to Him. Being pleasing to Him requires us to refrain from behaving like those in the crowd and treat others as Jesus did toward the woman presented before Him.

I have committed numerous errors in my life, and regardless of the progress I have made, there are individuals who will consistently bring up the past. It appears that Christians are often the last to forgive yet the first to judge. Like the Pharisees, I cannot cast stones because I am not without sin; none of us are without sin. Yet, many attempt to remove a speck from the eyes of others while neglecting the beam in their own.

My errors, my challenges, and the childhood abuse I have endured have now become my instruments; without them, I would not be the person I am today, nor would I have assisted those whom I have helped. One can view their circumstances with self-pity, listen to all the stone throwers who look down upon them, or one can choose to do as many have done: to take everything that life has presented and utilize it according to God’s purpose. What you deem mistakes, God refers to as “on-the-job training. ” God must prepare you for what He has prepared for you, and at times, this preparation necessitates hardship. However, the one requirement it undeniably demands is patience.

The Pharisees became aware of their own conscience when Jesus stated that the one without sin could cast the first stone. Today, we too should feel the weight of our conscience and recognize that none are without sin, and no one possesses the right to condemn others. Remember, if you harbor anger toward someone without cause, it is akin to committing murder; sin is sin, and none is greater than another. If you engage in sexual relations outside of marriage or have experienced lust in your life, then you are sinning just as much as an individual who may identify as gay or engage in adultery.
As Christians, we are called to embody the example of Jesus and live in a manner that allows others to perceive Him through our actions. We ought to treat those we encounter in a manner reflective of how Jesus would have treated them. We must look beyond their errors and strive to understand their hearts. We need to see others as God sees them, as a work in progress, a masterpiece awaiting completion. We are all created by the same God, who makes no errors; rather, He permits us to make mistakes so that we may grow.

I urge anyone who casts judgment to pause and reflect, “What would Jesus do? ” What would He convey to those who identify as LGBTQ+? What would He express to a woman who has undergone an abortion? What would He say to an individual who has committed adultery? What words would He have for the murderer, the liar, the thief? How would He respond to those whom church leaders and their congregations judge while wielding picket signs against those they do not know? What would Jesus say? … “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” – this is what He would proclaim… Are you able to?

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