Last Saturday I attended a women’s conference. One of the speakers talked about throwing stones, as she carried a large rock onto the stage with her. It was not the kind of rock one skips across a lake, but one that is thrown at others.
Her illustration made me think.
What a horrible way to die. Slowly. Each blow from a rock, leading to bruising. Breaking. Pain. Until mercifully, it was over. In times past, and still in some countries today, stoning is for those that have broken the law. Committed an unpardonable sin. Those that throw the stones are sure that they are right. That they are above this sin. That punishment is due.
And, the stones are heavy and cold in their hands.
As I listened to the woman speaking, I was reminded of something.
I have been like that woman. The lost. The sinful. The one who made mistakes. My wrongs were not always known to others, but, still there….marking me….as the one that was (and is) covered in the grime of sin.
And, I also must admit that I’ve picked up the stones. I have been the one holding the rocks, to bash them against another. To break them. Holding on to the belief that they deserve what they get.
And the tears fell.
Aren’t the ones casting the stones just as needing of forgiveness, as the one who cowers in the midst of the the angry circle?
We have all sinned, and we are all helpless to save ourselves………
that is where His grace comes in. Amazing grace.
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8 NIV
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For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… Romans 3:23 NIV
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV
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- Jesus could have stoned her….. (estherscott1257.wordpress.com)
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It Just Dawned On Me 
most thought provoking! we always need reminding of this, lest we thow the stones of distain and contempt, condemning those we openly disapprove of. its one thing to make judgements – assessments – of whether someone is reliable, trustworthy, dangerous, or whatever. or to decide on the right or wrong of deeds done. but we have to remember that life is fragile. people are fragile. and God prefers mercy over judgement. there is good reason for that!
k☼
ps … what ever happened to the guy the adulterous woman was caught commiting adultery with?
k☼
Well we know that women of that time period had no rights. One doesn’t hear of men being stoned for adultery.
no, but the law that they were inciting states that oth parties were to be punished. i think it was one of their own, and they were found out, so they shifted the blame and the focus to get out of the light. i cant wait to ask what Jesus was writing in the sand!
k☼
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