John 7:53-8:11

John 7:53-8:11 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Scholars will tell you that this passage isn't included in all of our oldest manuscripts.  That may mean any number of things, and I wouldn't wager my life on its historical accuracy, but there's still a lot we can learn from it, because it fits with what the other Gospel stories tell us about Jesus.
  Here we have the Jewish leaders dragging a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, trying to trap Jesus between the Law and this circumstance.  (I always wonder what happened to the man she was caught with -- how come they didn't bring him?)  The leaders are using this woman, likely naked, ashamed and terrified, to get to Jesus.  Whenever we are using people to make a point, we're misunderstanding the compassion to which we are called!  They think this woman is an opportunity to trap Jesus, and they don't see her as an opportunity to show mercy.
  Jesus, however, sees through their scheme.  He bends down to the ground, giving the leaders an opportunity to look at each other, perhaps to recognize how foolish they are to use this vulnerable woman to score political points, and then he invites them to consider their own imperfections before they condemn her.  As none of them seem to be qualified to condemn anyone (at least they have the good sense to recognize that!), they wander away disappointed, leaving Jesus and the woman.  He doesn't focus on her past, on her situation, on her shame -- no, he simply invites her into a future where her fate isn't defined by her past.  He is not eager or ready to condemn -- but rather invites her to imagine a future without the fear of condemnation hanging over her.  She came in shame, naked and unable to hide her past, and he sent her forth in hope, free of her past. 
  What a Savior we have in Jesus!  We come before him in shame and sin, and he releases us from that, sending us forth in hope and freedom.