Have you ever wondered what Jesus was writing in the sand when he was asked what he thought about the Mosaic code that called for a woman “taken in adultery” to be stoned? (see John 8:3–11). I can imagine a comedy routine like the famous Bill Cosby one about Noah building the ark. In this routine Jesus turns his back on the crowd and goes to the sandbox, and begins writing. Here was a man whose words would last for eternity, writing in the most ephemeral medium known to man. Anyone who has written in the sand on the beach knows that even if the tide doesn’t wash the words away, the wind will blow them away.
So what was he writing? Well, in my routine, the leader of the mob looks over Jesus’ shoulder and sees written in the sand the sins he committed that morning before coming to the stoning. Horrified that this is known to Jesus, the leader is about to wipe it out when Jesus brushes his hand over the list, and it is gone. The leader starts to think and leaves the scene. His focus has shifted from judging his neighbor to facing his own need for moral correction. Each member of the stoning party has a similar experience. One by one they see what is written in the sand and turn away from the stoning party. At last Jesus is left alone with the woman. She also recognizes her own need for reform and realizes that her efforts will be rewarded, as Jesus has indicated he is keeping no list of evils.
This incident wasn’t just the redeeming and forgiving of the woman, but of the stoning party as well. And when Jesus concludes by saying, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more,” is he not speaking to all of humanity? Redemption is always an option, because our worst deeds are simply written in the sand and never attach themselves to God or to His image and likeness.
