Writing in the sand ∙∙

Writing in the sand ∙∙

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. – John 8:6

John 12:46-48

46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.
47 I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.
48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged by the truth I have spoken on the day of judgment.

What does it mean to be accused? To be accused means to carry the burden of judgment, whether from the perspective of the law or societal expectations. Those accused can feel incredibly alone and isolated. The British legal drama “Accused” skillfully delves into this emotional landscape, telling gripping stories of people facing serious criminal charges. Yet, alongside these fictional tales is a powerful biblical story of a woman who was accused and condemned but ultimately found redemption. Together, these narratives prompt us to think about justice, guilt, and healing.

The many faces of the accused

“Accused” aired between 2010 and 2011, delivering two riveting seasons of anthology storytelling. Each episode unraveled the personal and legal circumstances surrounding an accused individual. Sometimes, the character claimed innocence, or their actions were portrayed as justified by circumstance. From the moment of the criminal charge to the tense courtroom trial, viewers were immersed in the highs and lows of the accused’s plight.

Through the series, the audience was placed in an uncomfortable position—peering into the lives of flawed, complex people through the lens of justice. Were they guilty, or weren’t they? Did their motivations justify their actions? By examining both the internal and external struggles of the accused, the series delved into themes that went beyond mere legal drama, deeply addressing human frailty along with moral absolutes and ambiguities.

We may not often end up in a literal courtroom, but life is filled with moments where accusations—against ourselves or others—force us to confront uncomfortable truths. This tension between judgment and self-reflection is captured powerfully not only in fictional dramas like “Accused” but also in one of Scripture’s most poignant accounts, found in John 8.

The woman caught in adultery

The biblical narrative in John 8 depicts a woman caught in the act of adultery and brought before Jesus. The scene is charged with tension and drama. She kneels in profound distress, surrounded by accusers who are eager not just to see her condemned but to use the situation to trap Jesus. Interestingly, for a crime that involves two individuals, only the woman is brought forward. The man involved is conspicuously absent, raising questions about the motives of her prosecutors.

But the deeper story isn’t just about her guilt; it’s about the nature of her accusers. Their intentions are clear—They are less focused on justice and more on creating a dilemma to entrap Jesus in a contradiction. If He pardons the woman, they will accuse Him of breaking Mosaic Law, which calls for the stoning of an adulterer. If He condones her execution, He risks breaking Roman law, which reserves the authority over capital punishment exclusively for itself.

From accusers to accused

The whole episode is concocted and intended to be an inescapable trap. They were trying to trap Him into saying something they could use against Him (John 8:6). Pause for a moment and visualize the scene. Can you envision the crowd of accusers wearing self-satisfied expressions, their smirking smiles implying, “We’ve got them now; go get the Romans.”

Yet the Lord Jesus Christ responded with Solomonic wisdom. At the same time, He does not deny her guilt or the Mosaic Law’s requirements. However, there’s a catch. He adds one little proviso. His statement completely reframes the conversation and exposes the hypocrisy of the accusers.

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).

With that profound declaration, the dynamics shift. The accusers, once confident in their self-righteousness, are forced into introspection. One by one, they retreat, convicted—not by a courtroom, but by the weight of their own consciences. What secrets did Jesus write in the sand? We don’t know. But His silent act and piercing words stripped away any pretense of moral superiority.

The woman is left alone with Jesus. Although her guilt is acknowledged, she is not condemned. Instead, she is offered mercy and a second chance.

“Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus says. “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11).

Parallels of guilt and judgment

Both the TV series “Accused” and the story in John 8 challenge us to examine the role of judgment. Why do we accuse others? What is justice without mercy? The accusers in “Accused” and the Pharisees in John 8 both remind us how easy it is to pass judgment from a position of perceived moral superiority. Yet, both narratives also reveal the sobering truth that justice often requires examining ourselves first. We find ourselves compelled to confront uncomfortable realities about accountability and empathy.

The biblical story not only highlights guilt for the woman but exposes it in her accusers as well—a dynamic mirrored in “Accused.” The legal drama reveals that fault, motive, and justification are not always so black and white. Most of us sit somewhere in the gray, deserving both accountability and compassion.

The accusers become the accused themselves. Those who passed judgment and condemned the woman condemned themselves.

REFLECT & PRAY

“The first lesson Jesus taught that day was that only the guiltless have the right to judge” (Peter Marshall).

Father, thank You for not condemning me or the other children of the King. Please help me not to condemn others.

INSIGHT

While the apostle John did not document the exact words the Lord Jesus Christ wrote in the dust, the reaction of the woman’s accusers provides a hint. Whatever He wrote made them aware of their own sinfulness, and they were condemned because of sin. Therefore, they recognized they were not qualified to cast the first stone.

Pause for a moment and imagine the unfolding drama. Can you hear the sound of stones dropping to the ground as her accusers, one by one, retreat in shame? Once again, His accusers met their match and silently, timidly, slinked away. But there is more.

John 8:6 Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

The Greek word translated wrote is katagrapho. Katagrapho is used only once in the New Testament. It literally means “to write down.” It comes from two Greek words, kata – down and grapho – write. It has the sense of “writing or drawing.” John 8:6 has the nuance of “writing down accusations“.

In the book of Job, he is in despair, enduring immense emotional and physical suffering and profound losses. To compound his distress, he has been subjected to the “comforting” yet reproachful, critical words of his “counselor” friends. As his endurance wanes, he reaches a breaking point and questions why. Why does the Father seem to be punishing him? Job conducted a probing self-assessment. He searched his heart, mind, and actions. He could not identify what he had done wrong that would deserve such “punishment.”

Job 13:23-24

23 Tell me, what have I done wrong? Show me my rebellion and my sin.
24 Why do you turn away from me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?

Job 13:26 For you write bitter things against me.

The Hebrew word translated as write is kathab. When the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into the Greek Septuagint, kathab was translated with the Greek verb katagrapho. Katagrapho connotes “writing down accusations.”

This informs our understanding of John 8:6. Without knowing the exact content of His words, the Lord Jesus Christ wrote something incriminating against the woman’s accusers. His writing revealed that none of them were without sin. Therefore, they were not qualified to cast stones.

Ultimately, only the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to condemn and stone her. Only He is without sin. Could it be that He picked up a stone and then simply let it drop to the ground to make His point? His words liberate and change the trajectory of a life. They resonate down through the centuries.

John 8:11 Neither do I. Go and sin no more.

An incredible and merciful truth shines through the dust of Jerusalem’s streets. When we compare ourselves to God’s perfect righteousness, our flaws become apparent. Deep down, we can’t deny the guilt we carry and the judgment we deserve. But instead of punishment, we’re met with mercy and forgiveness. What a fantastic gift!

As highlighted in John 12:47, “I have come to save the world and not to judge it.”

Such stories are not just about guilt or judgment; they’re about redemption. The woman caught in adultery is not defined solely by her sin or her accusers. She is offered a way forward, an opportunity for transformation.

We live in a world eager to accuse. While guilt demands accountability, judgment without compassion is hollow and heartless. The challenge lies in what happens next. Do we condemn, justify, or transform? The choice is ours.

Whenever we find ourselves holding a stone, the words of Jesus echo softly yet profoundly within us—“He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.”

¯_(ツ)_/¯8-20-23

© Dr. H 2025