“Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.”
John 8:6-9 (NAB)
The men of the community and their elders were trying to trap Jesus into agreeing with them, that the woman accused of adultery, deserved to be stoned to death. At first, Jesus ignored them and started writing words in the ground.
Jesus knew exactly what the law of Moses said on the topic, but he took a totally different approach by suggesting that whoever was without sin should cast the first stone. Then He bent down and continued to write on the ground. Whatever Jesus was writing, locked in His point, because the men all left, one by one, the elders being first.
Everyone wonders and many have tried to guess what Jesus wrote on the ground that day. It’s the only time the gospel refers to Jesus writing anything at all. Scripture never tells of any other time that Jesus wrote something except for that day, in this particular story, which has always sparked curiosity.
The gospel writers wrote down whatever the Holy Spirit inspired them to write, according to what they observed Jesus say or do. On that day, His disciples were right there and witnessed the whole event, yet none of the gospel writers tell us what Jesus wrote.
We know one thing for sure, that a woman, condemned for adultery by her community, was about to be stoned to death, but she received mercy instead. Jesus looked around, asking if anyone was left to condemn her and the answer was no one.
Then Jesus told her, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”
Throughout the gospels, Jesus speaks about showing mercy. He stressed how God desires for us to show mercy more than offering Him sacrifices. Jesus boldly clarified the core of His mission by telling the religious authorities that He didn’t come to call righteous people, but instead, He came to call sinners to repentance, and show them mercy. (Luke 5:32)
Jesus’ words can easily upset those who were satisfied with their own self righteousness, but to those who knew that they had fallen short, His words gave life and hope, as they turned their hearts toward Him, instead of away from Him in shame.
Whatever He wrote on the ground that day was bold enough to stop a frenzied mob, and make them feel ashamed enough to turn around and leave. Jesus had a habit of transforming a reason for judgement into a fountain of God’s mercy. We may never know the specific words He wrote in the ground that day, but through His act of writing, came the act of mercy.
Mercy, like faith, requires an action, just as when the blind men once shouted out to Jesus as He passed by, “Have mercy on us!” Jesus responded by asking them, “What do you want Me to do?” Mercy always involves “doing” something.
Jesus emphasized showing mercy throughout His ministry. The elders and accusers had the option to repent and stay with Jesus, from that day on, but they chose to walk away. The only ones left were the accused woman and His disciples. Mercy is offered to all, through His final action on the cross, but it’s up to people to act, by receiving it.
Once we receive His mercy, He asks us to show mercy to those who cross our path each day. Jesus showed mercy to the various outcasts of His day. His mercy was rendered through an action like sharing a meal with tax collectors and prostitutes, or touching the untouchable, contagious lepers, and by breaking the social norms of His culture, by talking alone with a gentile woman at a well.
He invited everyone to receive His living water of endless mercy and love. On that day when He wrote something on the ground, which convicted the accusers, His hope was that all would receive His mercy. He showed the same mercy to the whole world, by laying down His life, and giving Himself up for us. Some walked away and others received it.
There is nothing we could do to make Jesus love us any more than He already does. There is also nothing we could do to make Him love us any less. Mercy flows from that kind of love. It makes us wonder how anyone could refuse it. The blood that flowed from His nail pierced hands, has since been writing in the soil of every human heart. He writes in unspoken words that invite every soul to return to Him and receive mercy.
As part of His church, He expects us to be His body in the world and carry on His acts of mercy. We are now the hands and feet of Jesus and it’s our turn to show mercy through actions. We are also writing words in the ground today, words that offer love to the outcasts, forgiveness instead of judgement, and mercy instead of condemnation.
Lord, help us to first receive all the mercy that you offer to us, and then help us to share it with those who cross our path in this life. Open our hearts to see where we can take new actions in showing mercy to others. Amen
