The Adulterous Woman-From Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Thanks so much for joining me today for a little coffee break at Coffee Hour. I’m so glad you could make it because I believe we are finally going to meet her, The Adulterous Woman!

So we’re back at the Temple, and the Pharisees have just walked in practically dragging this woman and I can only imagine that we can probably hear a pin drop about now. These prideful men had only one thought in mind as they brought her to Jesus: They were trying to trick Him so they would have a reason to arrest Him once and for all, as if that would do the trick!
 
Here she comes.

From my vantage point, I see long, beautiful hair, but why can’t I see her face? As she gets closer, it becomes apparent why we can’t make eye contact. Her head is hanging down, as if she is clothed in shame. Uh-oh, they are stopping right in the middle of the huge circle and they put her just steps away from Jesus. Let’s listen to what they say: “Teacher” – interesting that they called Him that – “this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses commanded us in the law that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

STOP! So I went back to Leviticus 20:10, the part of the law they were talking about, and here’s something interesting that I think we should know before we continue on: The law required that both the adulterer and the adulteress be punished. But these guys only brought one of the guilty parties. Is this a hint of their intent to trick Jesus? That’s just a little something to think about
I can only imagine that this woman had to be shaking in her clothes – I don’t think she had boots in those days! The Word doesn’t give us any insight into her, if she was the town ho, or if she had a good personality, whether she was pretty, friendly, none of that. But if we want to understand her, all we have to do is look inside of us, for every one of us women have committed adultery of one form or another at one time or another! Ouch, I know that hurts, but the truth will set us free and bathe us in humility, challenging us to befriend this adulterous woman, and any other one that comes in your  world, and not condemn her!

The Scripture goes on to confirm that “this they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.” In other words, they wanted to see if He would contradict the Law that came from God to Moses and the people,  but what these religious leaders and Pharisees didn’t realize is the Law was established to point them, and us, to the reality of the necessity of the love of a Savior and because they were so deceived – filled with pride – and intent on re-establishing their authority and power, they missed all the cues along the way.

I’d better let you go for now. Please join me tomorrow for one of the most beautiful responses to The Adulterous Woman’s sin, a response that He echoes for us when we as adulterers come to Him.
Being freed from adultery,

Evinda