WRITTEN IN THE DUST
“As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 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 8:3-6 NLT
I am indebted to Pastor Ken Legg for his teaching on this passage of Scripture.
Jesus and His opponents were locked in a deadly game of cat and mouse. His claim to be the Son of God had sent His enemies into a frenzy of murderous hatred.
On this occasion, recorded in John 7, during the Feast of Tabernacles, the religious leaders instructed the temple guards to arrest Him, but the guards returned empty-handed. Why? The temple guards were overwhelmed by Jesus’ words. “No one ever spoke like this man, ” they responded.
The high priest had concluded the Feast of Tabernacles with the water ceremony, pouring water on the ground from a large pitcher. The water disappeared into the hot soil, never to quench the thirst of any thirsty person – symbolic of the failure of Isreal’s religion to satisfy. Jesus, in response, called thirsty people to come to Him and He would give them living water.
The religious leaders had failed to arrest Jesus, so, incensed by His invitation, and intent on their purpose to silence Him, they set a trap to catch Him out as a law-breaker.
They brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery. What would He do as a Rabbi with authority? Would He uphold the law or apply His yoke of mercy in defiance of the law?
They gathered around Jesus, clamouring for His response. Jesus knew the Scriptures. Silently, He bent down and wrote on the ground. What did He write? Many have guessed, but perhaps God’s Word itself provides the answer.
Look at Jeremiah 17….
“10 “I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”… 13 Lord, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10, 13 NIV
Was Jesus acting out Jeremiah’s words by writing their names in the dust?
Why did Jesus write their names in the dust?
“The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.“ Proverbs 10:7 NIV
He was warning them of judgment. There are only two places in Scripture where the names of people are written.
The Lamb’s Book of Life – (the palm of God’s hand) is an indelible record of the names of the righteous.
The dust of the earth – is a transient record of the names of the ungodly. Just as their names would disappear from the dust, so these men would perish and be forgotten.
Jesus looked up at them. His action and His gaze said it all. “I know you.” In that moment, their guilt was exposed and they slunk away, mortified and convicted but even more determined to silence Him.
What was the outcome for the woman? With the witnesses gone, Jesus could apply His yoke of mercy.
This story reminds me of another encounter Jesus had with a loose woman. He met her at a well and offered her living water. To her, he was just a man. She was interested and fascinated until He revealed the shocking truth… “I know you.”
Unlike the scribes and Pharisees, who shrank from Jesus’ disclosure, the woman of Samaria, finally convinced and with excited joy, rushed back to the village to share the news with her fellow villagers.
“29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”
John 4:28-29 NLT
The Scriptures assert,
27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
Proverbs 20:27 NLT
“13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:13 NIV
David, in Psalm 139, reveals the wonderful purpose of God’s intimate knowledge, to protect, guide and bless.
“You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head… 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me… 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
Psalms 139:5, 9-10, 17-18 NLT
This revelation of God’s knowledge should lead us to pray, with David…
“23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
Psalms 139:23-24 NLT
Acknowledgement
Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.