I have always been intrigued by the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery. This story has had many theologians wondering what Jesus was writing in the sand. Was it the Ten Commandments? Was it the sentence? Was he doodling? This was not the point. They were trying to catch Jesus.
If you go back just a few verses you will find that it was one day after the feast. Which feast? The feast of Sukkot. (tabernacles).
Everything that led to this point is important. It was a new year. Their sins were pushed forward. Time was spent in deep teshuvah (repentance). It was now time to begin anew. That morning they would have started their reading with, "In the beginning".
Not even 24 hours had passed and none of them could cast the first stone?
Jesus could have, but chose not to condemn. John Ortberg says Condemnation and judgement have become so deeply rooted in the human spirit that most of us can't imagine having to function without them.
Less than 24 hours before they were singing and drawing water from the wells of salvation.
Less than 24 hours before Jesus said, "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
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