Woman, Where Are They?

There are many stories beautifully portrayed in the Bible that capture our attention, overwhelm our hearts; and oftentimes change the trajectory of our very lives.

I love to read the stories of courage, such as the woman who had been bleeding for years who pushed her way through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus.  Instantly she was healed.

I think fondly of the prophetess Anna who was a widow until she was eighty four and never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.  I can only imagine a life such as Anna’s lived with pure devotion and selflessness.

Perhaps it’s because such stories of faith, devotion and selflessness appear to be the exception, not the norm, that I am more drawn to women whose sins are put on display for all to see.  It is the humanity of these women that strikes a chord within me, and oddly gives me hope.

Rahab was one such woman.  We are not given her backstory but rather meet up with her as she’s in the thick of living a life of prostitution.  Her life is spared, as is the life of her family, as she shows kindness to the Israelite spies.  We are not told what happens to her after she is received into the family of Israelites, but I am left to believe that she is a changed woman, no longer bound by her life of sin.

This morning as I was reading the book of John, chapter 8, I was drawn to the story of the woman caught in adultery.  Imagine the scene as Jesus, the Son of God, is teaching in the temple courts with a crowd of people gathered around Him.  Suddenly commotion breaks out as the teachers of the law and the Pharisees bring in the woman, making her stand before the group.  

In a very self-righteous manner, they inform Jesus that the Law of Moses commands them to stone such a woman; they want to know what Jesus thinks regarding the matter.  

Jesus, the holy, righteous, blameless Son of God doesn’t get riled.  He casually bends down and starts to write on the ground with His finger.  This makes the teachers of the law and the Pharisees angry as they continue to question Jesus regarding the woman.  

Jesus straightens back up and says to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stoops down and writes on the ground. (John 8:7,8) At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time until only Jesus was left with the woman still  standing there.

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:10,11)

If we are honest, we must admit that we are this woman.  Sin is sin.  Jesus is not shocked at our sin any more than He was with this woman who was caught in adultery.  Although we cannot stand face to face with Jesus as this woman did, we have something even more powerful.  We have the Spirit of God within us as believers; we have full access to the throne of God.

As we enter into the presence of God and kneel at the foot of the throne, confessing our sins and worshipping the One who has made us holy, righteous and pure by His shed blood, we are no longer condemned.  

Our sins are forgiven.  Those who accuse us no longer have any power over us.  Fear is replaced with love.  Sins are removed as far as the east is from the west.  

Just as Jesus spoke to the woman caught in adultery, He speaks to each one of us.  His words are words of life, hope and love.  Everything He is becomes who we are as we realize that those who condemn us must depart.  “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 

“No one, Sir,” we respond.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus will declare.

“Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Stay the Course...

Sheila Cote