Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.”
John 8:1-11 (NABRE)
What did Jesus write on the ground?
Mercy is something we both give and receive. It can be rather difficult to do either, but without mercy, this would be a sad world.
This passage reads like a parable in a way. Jesus’ real-life interactions are teaching moments for us, too. Given this passage’s theme of mercy, it is especially interesting that it starts off with a brief note that before he came to the temple area, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. We are given no reason as to why he did this, and immediately after the trip is mentioned, the scene shifts. It is worth remembering that the Mount of Olives* is where Jesus experienced immense agony before his arrest and eventual death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. The inclusion of this note is fitting given what happens between Jesus and the woman caught in adultery.
To the scene at the temple area. The unmerciful scribes and Pharisees intend to take up stones with which to execute the adulterous woman. The refusal to forgive (or even to have the willingness to do so) opens chasms between people, and from a distant vantage point, we see that each of our grudges makes up a lot of the cracks that fragment society. Plainly speaking, to not be merciful, especially in close relationships, is to drive people apart. This also comes from a place of ingratitude. What does it say about us when we refuse to have a merciful outlook after we have received such an abundance of mercy from God? Our experiences of being forgiven both by God and our fellow man should challenge us to be merciful to others because we need forgiveness just like any other sinner! Out of joyful gratitude and an honest view of ourselves we should forgive.
Thank you for reading. Peace.
*A special thanks to the maps section of my copy of the Bible (The Catholic Study Bible, 3rd Edition) for helping me to clarify that the Garden of Gethsemane is located on the Mount of Olives.
Eat the Scroll 