The Defender of the Weak
If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. (John 8:7 NIV) The neighborhood bully is always picking on the weakest in the bunch. We had one in our community and everyone stayed away from him, not just the scrawny kids who lived in fear of him. The resident bully liked to belittle the weak and intimidate all who stood in his way. In bringing a woman caught in adultery to Jesus for judgment, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law weren't really seeking justice. This was a ploy, a tactic they were using to entrap Jesus. What did he think of this woman? Would he condemn her and gain a reputation for harshness, or release her and show himself soft on sin? Instead of a direct answer to their question, Jesus writes on the ground with his finger and then stands up straight with a retort that caught them off guard, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." One by one they all disappeared without a word - or a stone. How we treat sinners should be a reflection of Jesus' defense of love. Jesus urged the woman to leave her life of sin with tenderness - no bullying required! Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for defending the weak and sinful - yes, even me. Used with Permission
