“Is there no one left to accuse you?” Jesus asked. “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin any more.” John 12:11

It was probably a sunny day in Jerusalem. Blue skies arched over the holy land that morning. The temple was filled with people coming to offer sacrifices. Children ran through the crowds as their parents waited in line, absorbing the process, the teaching, and the ceremony as they played.

A nice day. A beautiful day to come and listen to Jesus teaching. As usual, He had a crowd around Him. Some were curiosity seekers; others disciples. Still others came for the entertainment value. It was a delightful day and they had a large-ish crowd. The disciples must have been happy about that. Numbers were important to them.

There was a vaguely discernible clamor in the distance that somehow seemed at odds with the crisp, clear morning. As Jesus taught, the clamor got louder until suddenly it came right into the temple. The children stopped their play and turned to look. The adults waiting in line with their sacrifices turned to see what the commotion was about.

It was the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law. There was a large group of them, and they had a woman with them. (Tradition tells us it was Magdalene). They were bringing her to where Jesus was teaching. Hmm. More people got out of line and joined crowd already listening to Jesus. There was going to be a show and they didn’t want to miss it.

“This woman is an adulteress,” the spokesman cried out to Jesus in a voice nearly as accusing of Jesus as it was of the woman. “Yes, caught in the very ACT.”

What would the Teacher do? What would He say? The crowd held its collective breath waiting.

Jesus said . . . Nothing

The silence was deafening. With no reaction on Jesus’ part the spokesman went on: “In our Law, Moses commanded that such a woman must be stoned to death.”

How many of the onlookers scratched their heads and said, “Hmm, I don’t remember the Law saying it quite that way”? But, after all, these are the Teachers of the Law, they must know what the Law actually says. Surely Jesus will say something now . . .

Jesus said . . . Nothing. . .

Instead, Jesus started drawing in the dust. I wonder what the woman made of that? She couldn’t have expected to be treated well. She had never been treated well. Least of all by spiritual people. What was she thinking? Was she resigned to her fate? Was she anxious to just get the stoning over with? Was there even a glimmer of hope deep within her that she might find mercy in this lynch mob of spiritual leaders?

Jesus said . . . Nothing. . .

Just a side note: Jesus stood before His own accusers in silence, too, just as he stood before this woman’s accusers. There’s a lesson there for those with ears to hear.

Back to the story: The crowd was getting uncomfortable. Serious accusations had been made. Jesus really needed to say something. It was embarrassing. The Pharisees were getting annoyed. You don’t annoy Pharisees. That was something like the 11th commandment. The Teachers of the Law were barraging Him now with questions.

Jesus! You’ve got to say something.

And then He did. “Whichever one of you has committed no sin, go ahead,” He challenged them. “Throw the first stone at her.”

A mixture of fear and confusion passed through the eyes of the woman. What did that mean? What would the Pharisees do next? Surely they were God’s appointed leaders in the spiritual community. Which would be the first to throw a stone? Would it hurt badly? How long does a stoning take, anyway?

She looked at Jesus, perhaps to see if He was serious. But Jesus had turned His gaze back to the ground and drew in the dust again. The interview was over. The mock-trial was over. What would the verdict be?

The children must have stood waiting . . . waiting for the first stone to be thrown.

One of the older Pharisees discreetly slipped away. Another and then another. The Teachers of the Law must have been late for their classes. They made a hasty retreat as well. Those younger men left holding the bag looked around bewildered at how their water-tight plan to trap Jesus had gone awry. They too disappeared.

Finally, all that was left was the woman . . . and Jesus. What should she do? Make a run for it? It was useless to run in this town. Everyone knew you. And she couldn’t stand their all day. Could she?

Jesus looked up at her, His eyes compassion itself. Oh the depths of that compassion. He was rising now; he was going to speak; of that she was certain. What would He say?
Was that a momentary frown on His face as He looked at the place her accuser had been only minutes before?

“Where are they?” He asked. “Is there no one left to accuse you?”
She hardly knew herself where her accusers had gone. But she could answer the second question: “No one, Lord.”

A look of triumph crossed His face. The work He had come for—the work He would complete at the cross was underway. Rescue was accomplished. Mercy had triumphed over judgment . . . at least in the life of this one woman. The day would come when this same mercy would be offered to everyone. He turned His radiant face toward those still listening and then back to the woman.

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin any more.”
And with the command came the power to obey. Jesus always supplies all that is needed to do what He commands. The woman was not only rescued from a horrible death, but she was set free from her life of sin.

The next recorded words are Jesus saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.” John 12:11