Short Stories

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The Adulterous Woman
John 8:1-11

It was a long muggy night like many others, that I had spent sleepless. My husband had been away for several months on travel. I went to the doorway to look, wondering if he was still alive, or not. I wished he were here, to hold me. It is so hard to keep the household running, when he is away so long. It was then in the early morn, I saw a man looking at me, bidding me to join him. It was wrong, but I was so lonely that I went. I wanted to feel comfort, for just a little while. We both know it would not last, but a couple of hours, and what harm could it do if no one knows.

I fell asleep afterwards, but was awaken by an angry mob bursting into room. They were screaming and yelling. I barely managed to grab a sheet to pull around me. They pushed me into to the light so all the world could see my nakedness and shame. They ignored the man I was with, but cried for my death, demanding that I be stoned. I was so afraid. They dragged me, and then threw me before the new teacher, Jesus, that was passing by. I knew the law’s of Moses, I had a broken it and I had been caught. Looking back, I am not sure why I did it. Now, I was against the wall trying to hide from the rocks that they had all picked up in their hands.

They waited for the teacher to tell them to proceed. His simple instruction to stone me, would have added to his power. I waited for my life to end. He looked at me, but his eyes did not show the hate I expected. His words baffled me. “Let he who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he took his eyes off me, and looked down at the ground. I waited, a moment, bracing myself for the first stone, but none came. I dared to glance a look their way. I saw the men first drop their eyes, and then their stones, and finally walk away one by one. The oldest left first until only the youngest was left. He too shook his head and walked away. What was it, he wrote in the sand?
Did he write, “Forgive her, because you need forgiven too?” Did he list their sins?

When they had all left, he asked me, “Where my accusers were?”

I said, “Gone all of them.” Strange he seems to have compassion in his eyes.

He said, “That if they did not condemn me, then neither would He.”
Finally, he dismissed me, and told me, “Go, and sin no more.”

I fled as quickly as I could. He had held the power of life and death that day, yet he chooses to love despite my failing and my sin. I wondered, “Is it possible that God too could love one like me?”

I hid for a few days, not sure, if the others would come back. I tried to go unnoticed as I followed at the edge of the crowd that followed this man’s teaching. I listened to his words. I found healing and strength from them. I found a way to forgive myself. I found a way to approach God once again. I feel like he saved my life all over again. This one encounter with Him forever changed me. I am no longer the same person.

Kathy Barnes
5-31-2010

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