Unable to speak, the woman felt fear pulse through her as heavy hands pushed her toward the temple.

“We’ll see what the teacher has to say about this,” one of the religious leaders jeered. Despite the scorching heat and the sun shining in her eyes, the woman was cold. Not like this, she thought. A foolish mistake, and I’m paying for it with my life. Too shocked to cry, she felt her heart beat frantically. No escape, she thought, shivering as she turned away from the prying eyes surrounding her.

“Teacher,” said one of the leaders, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

The crowd of men carried rough rocks in their hands, ready to throw.

Silence. The woman glanced at Him, and He met her gaze—not with the cruel eyes of condemnation, but with compassion. She had to tear herself away from His gaze; for in that glance, she knew He could read her innermost heart and thoughts. She understood this was the man—Jesus—who she had heard rumors about.

Stooping down, Jesus wrote in the sand, reflecting before finally breaking the ache of the silence: “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Silence fell once again. Anticipating the pain, the woman winced as she heard the thud of a rock colliding with the ground. Only it didn’t hit her. One by one, the stones were cast down, and the religious leaders walked away, until she was standing alone with Jesus.

“Woman, where are they?” Jesus asked. “Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, Lord,” she replied.

“Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

Joy and relief flooded her. Jesus had set her free. • Cindy Lee

• Today’s story is how one author imagines John 8, when some religious leaders tried to trap Jesus. Consider taking some time to read this passage slowly. What do you notice about Jesus?

• Jesus came, not to condemn us, but to save us (John 3:16-17). We have all sinned, and we all need Jesus’s forgiveness just as much as anyone else. Because Jesus died and rose again, we do not need to pay the price for our sin because He paid it for us. How can this truth affect the way we view our own sin, as well as the sin of others?

“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” John 8:11 (CSB)

Condemned