Demonstrating the Mercy of Jesus Christ

In the Book of John 8:3-11, we read:
“The scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say?’”

“This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’”

“And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who hear it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, he said to her ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’”

The reader has no doubt that this woman was caught in the act of adultery. We are told she was caught in the very act. In other words, the accusation is not based on hearsay or rumor.

But what is interesting is Jesus’ reaction because despite the truth of the accusation, He does not condemn her, but He forgives her. Moreover, Jesus challenges the accusers, and to their disappointment and shame, they have to walk away because they themselves are sinners. The only one, who was without sin and had the right to judge, decided to forgive. This is the Grace and Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are taught that before God all sins are equal, because each sin moves us away from God. The Fathers of the Church teaches us that sin, “amartia,” means to “miss the mark.” The mark we miss is following Christ. When we sin, our actions move us away from God.

Ironically, the scribes and Pharisees, who caught the woman in the very act and demanded that she be stoned in accordance to the laws of Moses, were judging her. They were standing in God’s place. How often in our daily lives do we act as the scribes and the Pharisees? How many of us act like Christ recognizing the truth of the act but showing mercy and forgiveness to the person so that the person is restored and encouraged not to miss the mark again? This is what it means to be Christ-like.

Let us not be scandalized by the acts of others, but let us remember our own sinfulness and strive to be Christ-like and love and accept the person thus helping them find the correct path.

Amen.