Children can be unkind.

Who could forget the familiar chant?

‘Sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me.’

 In reality, sticks-stones and names can hurt and destroy.

 Accusers labeled a woman; adulteress. They felt she deserved death by stoning.

“But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

At dawn He went to the temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them.

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. ‘Teacher,’ they said to Him, ‘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?’ They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him.

Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, ‘The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her (John 8:1-7 HCSB).”

Note that the religious leaders brought only the woman involved in the sin of adultery. Where was the man?

Did the accusations stick? Her judges fled.

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’

‘No one, Lord,’ she answered.

‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus. ‘Go, and from now on do not sin anymore (John 10:10b-11 HCSB).”

The woman was guilty as charged; yet, Jesus did not condemn her. He told her to make a clean break; sin leads to death.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23 HCSB).”

In mercy, God offers eternal life.

Published articles in Mature Living Magazine, Devotions for the Deaf, The Secret Place, Coosa Journal, Mary Hollingsworth's The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, Jo Krueger's Every Day in God's Word. http://www.pamforddavis.com
 http://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php?