Tuesday, February 11, 2014
John 7:53-8:11
The famous story of the woman caught in adultery was a later insertion into the Gospel of John as it does not appear in the oldest manuscript evidence for the text (we have no originals of any book of the Bible). It even shows up in some copies of the Gospel of Luke! However, this does not mean that the story itself was not ancient, and it is consistent with other accounts in which some people attempt to trap Jesus. In many ways, the narrative is consistent with the characterization of Jesus throughout the Gospel of John. He is calm, wise and forgiving, and he knows that this woman is being used as a pawn to lay a charge against him. He responds to the challenge of the scribes and Pharisees by making them think about their own sins. One can imagine them walking away stiffly, frustrated that Jesus has yet again outwitted them. He displays compassion for the woman, but also sternly exhorts her to sin no more. The characterization of Jesus here is a reminder that for early Christians, Jesus was no shrinking violet. He resists those who test him with a combination of wisdom, compassion and intelligence.
-Alicia Batten
Thanks for this Alicia. Jesus' mix of cleverness and compassion remind me of the story of the Desert Father Moses the Black:
ReplyDeleteOne of the monks at Scetis had faltered in his vows, and a council was put together to determine his punishment. Moses was summoned to take part, but he refused to go. When asked again, Moses consented to attend, but as he set out, he picked up a basket and tore a hole in the bottom. Filling the basket with sand and slinging it over his shoulder, he began the walk, and the sand trailed out behind him. As he approached his destination, a group of monks came out to meet him, and seeing the trickling sand, asked, “What is this, Father?” Moses replied, “I carry behind me my manifold sins where I cannot see them, and I come to judge the errors of another.” On hearing this and understanding the symbol, the monks promptly forgave their brother and repented of their own sins as well.
[ from http://bayshorebaptistchurch.com/passing-judgment-the-story-of-moses-the-black/ ]