John 8:1-11  Read this passage carefully.. for it reveals the greatness of God's grace to all of us.  

Jesus was in the temple teaching.. and many people were coming to hear Him.  The scribes and Pharisees invaded the group.. bringing a woman.. to see what Jesus would do to her. They came with pride and arrogance.. they came with attitudes of scorn and anger. They came to shame her for her sin..  in front of everyone.. and to test Jesus.. to see if He would do what the Law of Moses commanded. 

What they least expected was for Jesus to stoop down and write with His finger on the ground.  It is a mystery.. what did He write?  Why did He choose to write anything at that time? The Living Word.. writing.. oh.. don't we want to read it?   Yet, it is what Jesus says next that is so important.. "He who is without sin among you, let him be first to throw a stone at her."

Jesus was the only One qualified to throw a stone at the woman.. and He did not. Instead, He stooped down and wrote on the ground once again.  This always makes me think of the time that Daniel was called into the palace room of Belshazzar.. for a finger mysteriously appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall as the king and his cohorts drank out of the vessels from God's house and praised their idols...  The finger wrote.. "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin".. God had numbered the kingdom of Babylon. He weighed it on the scales and found it lacking...  The scribes and Pharisees were being weighed.. and they were indeed lacking.. perhaps what Jesus wrote on the ground that day shook their foundation as the writing on the wall shook the kingdom of Babylon... Perhaps, it was then that they recognized themselves.. at least for a moment. 

Every accuser slipped away "beginning with the older ones.."  There were none left to condemn the woman.. except Jesus.. "Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more." He told the woman.  What wonderful words !!!! This is Grace.  He offers it to each of us.  He paid the price so that we do not have to... He gave His life so that we are not condemned.  We can go and sin no more... because Jesus sets us free to do so. 

Father in heaven, how thankful we are for the grace of Jesus, our Savior and Lord.  Your grace is amazing.. it is sufficient.. it is perfect.. it is full of glory. We are all lacking.. You could weigh us and find that we should be condemned.. but You choose to forgive us our sins and cleanse our unrighteousness.  We praise Your Name and give You glory with thankful hearts.  Amen.