¹ But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ² Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. ³ The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst ⁴ they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” ⁶ This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. ⁷ And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. ⁹ But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. ¹⁰ Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”¹¹ She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Meditation:

1. Imagine yourself in the crowd that day.  Picture the embarrassed and shamed expression on the woman’s face.  Hear the condescending voices of the religious leaders.  Feel the dirt blowing against me as Jesus bends down and writes something in it.
2. Come honestly before God and ask the Spirit to reveal to you the sins you’ve engaged in recently.  Then imagine yourself in the same situation as this woman.  You’re caught in this sin, exposed.  Imagine you and Jesus having the same conversation: “Does no one condemn you?”  “No one, Master.”  He looks you in the eye.  “Neither do I.  Go on your way.  From now on don’t sin.”  What are you feeling?  Thinking?

Suggestion for Family Devotional Time: Have you ever been caught doing something you are not supposed to do?  How did you feel then?  Why?  Read this passage.  What was this woman’s feeling when she was brought to Jesus?  What did she expect to happen to her?  What did Jesus do? Imagine how this woman must have felt compare with her feelings when first brought to Jesus.  What do you learn about Jesus from this story?  Close with a thanksgiving prayer of God forgiving our sins.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 10:15-17

¹⁵ A rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.  ¹⁶ The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.  ¹⁷ Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.