One of the most well-known words of Jesus in scriptures are “He who is without sin, caste the first stone.” The story that led to that poignant moment in history and the consequence it inspired is packed with lessons. For anyone seeking to become the best person they can be, these lessons cry out for serious and authentic personal introspection.
I thought it would be a good experience for my readers to explore the thoughts that follow and discover value as they have for me.
For context, I offer these two translations to remind us of the story.
John 8:1-9 Living Bible
8 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and talked to them. 3 As he was speaking, the Jewish leaders and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and placed her out in front of the staring crowd.
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. 5 Moses’ law says to kill her. What about it?”
6 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. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first!”
8 Then he stooped down again and wrote some more in the dust. 9 And the Jewish leaders slipped away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until only Jesus was left in front of the crowd with the woman.
John 8:1-9 The Message
To Throw the Stone
8 1-2 Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them.
3-6 The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.
6-8 Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.
9-10 Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest.
As I read these and other translations, nuances of the scene come into view. I see the spiritual leaders of the time, much like the politicians of today. They had the law as a weapon to use to meet their ends. In this case, the ends they were aiming for was to discredit Jesus who they saw as a threat. They were using the woman as their pawn to trap Jesus. I ask myself; do I fall into such a trap as these leaders did? I wonder what these people would have done with their stones if Jesus was not in the picture? Would they have stoned her?
I need to understand and know “what are my stones?” And what are the circumstances that would make me think that I am justified in throwing them? My first impulse is to see my stones as possible judgements that may arise from prejudices I have not yet purged.
1 Corinthians 10:23 New International Version
The Believer’s Freedom
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.
The stones we humans gather find justification in the sentiment expressed in these words from Paul who was an attorney by education and profession in his previous “career”. The excuse that whatever I choose to do is permitted by law, hence my actions regardless of effect on others is acceptable and is justified in my “stone throwing”. Now Paul makes it clear that though some actions are legal under the law, they are not beneficial or constructive for our journey to love one another as we have been loved.
This ushers in the thought that Jesus, as the paragon of human behavior that God hopes we would aspire, gave us a standard to use in our lives. Jesus in His last moments uttered two very telling statements relative to our “stones”.
Luke 23:34 New King James Version
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
For all the years I have read these words I ascribed them directed to the soldiers who were carrying out the crucifixion orders of Pilot. But considering the stones story, I wonder if Jesus’ request for His Father’s forgiveness was meant not only for the soldiers but also the Jewish leaders and the crowd of onlookers assembled for the sheer pleasure of the crucifixion spectacle.
The thought of Jesus asking for His Father to forgive me brings the sweet sound of my stones dropping to the pavement. The thought of that which followed this moment on cross ought inspire deliberate release of the stones I may still grip.
After the crowd’s taunting Jesus in His agony, the unrepentant thief at Jesus side joins the taunting initiated by the crowd. The other thief rebukes his counterpart and acknowledges Jesus as Lord. Then a gracious Jesus hears his plea and despite suffering insufferable agony he summons sufficient strength to give the thief hope.
Luke 23:42-43 New King James Version
42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
The love of Jesus instantly responds to the authentic repentance of the thief at His side with absolution. Jesus promise to the thief is also for those willing to repent their sin and accept the grace of Jesus. The sweet sounds of stones falling to the pavement and the repentant heart opens the way for our salvation.
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TURNING POINTS
The perception these revisited scriptures can inspire in me will hopefully open a more detailed introspection into my life. With a renewed vision of my prejudices and the work I have before me to drop them as stones will bring me closer to becoming transformed into the image of Jesus. I hope that it will be said for you as well.