Women’s conversion-conviction stories are not very common to the biblical text, but they do exist. This may be rooted in patriarchal norms of the time, which often saw male heads of household making decisions for everyone. Joshua 24:15 is one such example. Nevertheless, we seek to reflect on an individual conviction or conversion story. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
John 8:3, 6 ASV
[3] And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst,
[6] And this they said, trying him, that they might have whereof to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.
Caught or Captured?
Adultery – A very painful situation faced by many – then and now. Painful, for I assume that the partner who is cheated on may experience feelings of inadequacy and/or betrayal. I also presume that the ones caught did not wish to be exposed – though that is not always the case. Tensions may sometimes arise in the marriage unit, and under the Law (of Moses), was punishable by death.
That may have been a deterrent for some and might account for the polygamous households in those days. It also suggests to me that adultery in Y’shua’s time was likely to be about keeping married women out of multiparty relationships since polyandry seems to be less popular.
But under the Law of Moses, adultery penalties were meted out to both parties caught in the act. Both were to be stoned. If the charges were not invoked to the maximum, adultery could be cited as grounds for divorce.
Self-Check
What are your views on adultery, and how would you respond if asked to arbitrate a case?
Application
The case before us in John 8 is a bit different. Only one person was brought to Jesus: the woman. She was not the complainant – she did not suspect that her husband was involved in adultery. Rather, she was caught in the act – the defendant.
What state of undress might she have been in when presented as evidence against herself in such a case? More critically, if the law required that both caught in the act are stoned, was she really being accused, or was she a pawn in a deadly scheme?
You see siblings, the Pharisees of the day had issues with Y’shua. Our text suggests that they suspected Y’shua would extend commpassion toward the woman. That would ‘prove’ that Y’shua didn’t respect the Ten Commandments or YHWH and offer them grounds for His eventual arrest. Yes, siblings, Operation Kill Y’shua was that serious.
The entire saga thus invites us to think about motive. When we push for enforcement of laws – at home, at work, at school, in worship spaces, and in society – are we applying to all or some parties? How unbiased are we in our defence of biblical or human law? I suspect we might all be feeling our consciences pinched, for with the best of intentions, we may have ignored one person’s guilt to later focus on another’s (of equal or lesser severity).
Point to Ponder
Was the woman caught or captured in adultery?
In cases of adultery (or whatever sparks our righteous indignation), does partial proof override motive for reporting the transgression?
How do we respond when our motives are clearly wrong for addressing the wrong/sin in our midst?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
