Ransom Applied

And in the Law, Moses commanded us that such should be stoned.  What, then, do you say? John 8:5

Do You Say – Adultery is a capital offense.  It’s on God’s books, even if it’s not on ours anymore.  But then, we don’t live by God’s law, do we?  We live in a society where the will of the people trumps the divine right of the Creator.  Under God’s law, there would be a lot more graves – except for the ransom.  It is the issue of ransom that stands behind this fascinating incident in Jesus’ life.

The Pharisees were right about the law.  But notice a few things they left out.  First, they ascribed the law to Moses.  “Moses commanded us,” they say.  But Moses didn’t issue the commands.  He was the mouthpiece for God’s commands.  This is not about human authority.  It is about God’s authority.  The Pharisees are anxious to show that Jesus is contradicting Moses, Israel’s greatest prophet.  So, they put the emphasis in the wrong place on purpose.

Secondly, while they claim to have caught this women “in the act,” they fail to bring the man along with her.  The law is pretty clear about that.  Both parties are guilty.  What can this mean?  It probably implies that the “adultery” was a set up, a useful way to put a test to Jesus.  The male got away.  The female deserves to die.  Certainly Jesus saw right through this.

But there is another part of this incident that we might not recognize.  Jesus doesn’t answer the question.  Instead, He writes on the ground.  What do you suppose He wrote?  Well, if you know your Old Testament, it’s quite likely that He wrote something about kopher.  Why?  Because God is merciful.  Yes, the Law does require the death sentence.  Adultery is the symbolic equivalent of murder.  It kills the unity of marriage (“the two shall become one”).  But the law allows the possibility of ransom.  In fact, everything about this scene calls out for ransom.  Only one of the two is present.  The legalism of the accusers denies the compassion of God.  And it is a set-up.  The actual act breaks the law, no doubt, but there is a lot going on here behind the scenes.

The Pharisees spit out, “ti legeis” (what do you say?).  Jesus replies not a word.  He writes what He answers – holy Scripture in the dirt.  God’s Word in the sand.  Don’t you think that the Pharisees saw the connection to God’s statement in Genesis, “the blood of your brother cries out to Me from the ground.”  Spilling this woman’s blood into the ground will bring God’s penetrating inquiry, “Where is your sister?”  Those who break the Law are still our brothers and sisters.  Wherever there is an alternative, mercy outweighs punishment.  Forgiveness is ransom applied.

Is there a brother or sister in your life who deserves punishment under the Law?  Will you read what Jesus writes in the dirt, or will you act without regard to the heart of the merciful God?  No wonder He said, “The one without sin may throw the first stone.”