Go, And Sin No More

I have a deep love for the scriptures and the stories and lessons they contain. I have found over the course of writing in this blog, I have referenced several scriptures and stories as my "favorite". I believe I've even mentioned this one before. The story I want to talk about today is found in John 8: 1-11, known simply as "the woman taken in adultery". I have read, re-read and then read this story again, over and over and over. I can testify that the love and compassion demonstrated to this woman, by the Savior, in her lowest and most shameful moment, is the same mercy and love extended to each of us in our fallen moments. 

I was watching the new Mormon Message released by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on bullying and how we treat others. I sat and cried through the whole thing. If you haven't seen it, please take a minute to watch it. 

As many of you know, my older brother committed suicide. I don't pretend to know all the reasons for his choice, only he does. But I do know that he felt alone, burdened and struggling and searching for peace. I witnessed him being treated cruelly on several occasions throughout his life. Bullying is never ok. Gossiping is never ok. The words you speak have an affect on everyone involved. Even if the person you are talking about never knows the words spoken.  

Which brings me to my blog post today about the woman taken in adultery.

As I'm reading familiar stories in the scriptures, I find, at times, my mind will try to skip over the story. "You know this one already Taryn, let's study something different". I came up with a way to make my mind focus on the story in a new way. I started looking at the accounts from the perspective of others witnessing what was happening. If you've never tried this, I would recommend it. It's a fun way to learn new things about stories you thought you knew.  

I would like to look at this story from the perspective of 4 groups of people or individuals. First, the Scribes and the Pharisees. Second, the woman taken in adultery. Third, the people already in the temple whom the Savior was teaching and finally, the Savior Himself. 

First, the Scribes and Pharisees. This group was made up of the "officials" on the Law of Moses. It was the Scribes who were in charge of writing and upholding the Mosaic Law. They taught, interpreted and expounded on the Law for everyone else. The scriptures tell us the questions they asked the Savior were designed to trick him. They said, "Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?". Either answer they presented Him with would bring accusation on Him. If He said the Law of Moses should be upheld, they would accuse him of not complying with Roman law (to which all Jews were subjected to at that time). If he would have said they had no authority to perform such an act, they would accuse him of dismissing the law of Moses. They thought they had him in a corner. 

This group had no thought or compassion for the woman they had in their charge. What of her tears? What of her shame? She had just been dragged from her place and brought publicly before the Savior and all who were in the temple and had her sins loudly proclaimed for all to hear. The scribes and Pharisees did not care what their words or actions did to her. She only served to help their ultimate purpose. 

Let's shift our focus to this woman a little more. One might wonder where was her partner in this crime committed? Surely she could not be "taken in adultery" by herself. The Law of Moses, which was being cited as the witness against her, called for both the adulterer and adulteress to be condemned. But only she is brought forth. Alone. It only takes us calling to mind our deepest shames and imagining them being broadcast for all the world to hear to realize how this woman must have been feeling. She was being made an example. There was no compassion or mercy being extended to her by those who had focused on her. My heart aches for her as I think of the deep shame and humiliation she must have felt. The fear at hearing the words flung so harshly and carelessly "the Law commanded us, that such should be stoned". In her mind, her life hung in the balance. 

What of the group the Savior had been teaching before this commotion happened? I hope you will allow me to take a personal liberty here, as the record doesn't mention them again. The Savior was most likely teaching in the Court of the Women (the public place at the temple) as the Scribes and Pharisees wouldn't have brought the woman into the inner parts of the temple. There were many gathered around Him, men and women listening to His words when the woman was brought. It is human nature to gather around a commotion. We have all grumbled at stop and go traffic on the freeway only to get to the front and realize people were looking at a crash already pulled over to the side of the road and not interfering with traffic at all. We complain at all the other people who are slowing up traffic as we ourselves turn our heads to look as we go past. Here is my question. Why didn't anyone say anything? Why didn't someone mention that stoning someone taken in adultery hadn't been performed in centuries? Why didn't someone say that the Jewish leaders had no legal right to pronounce the death penalty on anyone? They were under Roman law. Why didn't any of them think of this poor woman and stand up for her?

Now, to our wonderful, merciful Savior. The record states, after the Scribes and Pharisees had laid their charge against her, he "stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not". We aren't told what He was thinking or writing here. But we have several examples in the scriptures where the Savior took "a time out" to think, to invite the Spirit to help Him review in His mind what should be done. We might also speculate that He too was hoping someone might stand up for this poor sister being publicly shamed and humiliated. As the accusers pressed Him again for an answer, He stood and said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." He again stoops down to the ground and continues writing. Let me take a slight detour to tell you about the law Christ was referencing here. In Deuteronomy 17:6-7, we are taught that the law required that two or three witnesses testify in order for someone to be put to death. And "the hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people." Meaning that the first person to throw the stone was basically saying, I will give my witness against this persons crime and guilt, that they are worthy of death. The cross reference to "he that is without sin" is 3 Nephi 14:1-5, which in summary teaches "judge not lest you be judged". Isn't our Savior amazing? The Scribes and Pharisees thought they had Him trapped with their two choices, so He chose His own choice. As He stooped on the ground again, the record says "And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst."

Only now does The Savior addresses her saying, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord, And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." There is a common misconception that the Savior forgave her sins here. That is not the case, in Alma 11: 37 it teaches, "And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins...". The woman had not been given time to repent. That is what the Lord offered here, time, no condemnation so she could have time to repent and do as He commanded her, to go, and sin no more. One more thought about this beautiful woman. It says that Christ had been stooped on the ground writing as all her accusers left. But she stayed. She did not know what would happen to her. The man before her was, in fact, without sin. He could condemn her. But she stayed and waited for the Savior to address her to find out what her punishment would be. What humility, this is the contrite spirit required for repentance. 

In closing I would like to ask you to consider two things in regard to the topic I mentioned at the beginning of this post, bullying. First, where do you fall among these four examples? Are you part of the Scribes and Pharisees. Pointing out the faults and sins of others? Laughing at jokes or gossiping at the expense of another? Or do you fall among the people who were supposed to be doing good. They were there in the temple being taught, learning what they should do. But when it came time to act on what they were learning, all fell silent. Do you find yourself as the woman? Alone and forsaken. No thought or kindness being extended toward you? Or as the Savior, seeking to love and not condemn others, but rather to encourage each other on this path.

Second, remember this. The woman was clearly doing something wrong. There seems to be no question of her guilt. But at the end of the day. It was between her and her Savior. Only He has power on earth and in heaven to condemn someone. We are to follow His example by offering love, protection and mercy. We are to condemn no man. Our journey here is between us and our Savior. If you find yourself as the woman, may I suggest running to the feet of the Savior. He will always offer peace and comfort and encouragement. Even in our darkest hours.

We have got to start loving the way the Savior does. Unconditionally. We are all sons and daughters of our Almighty Father in Heaven who loves each of us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to earth to suffer, atone and die for our sins. He who was blameless was blamed. He who was guiltless was accused. He who was without sin was struck and spit upon and mocked. He who loved unconditionally was betrayed and abandoned. He who is our safe harbor, was bullied and scorned and killed. Where do we stand? Whose lives are we ruining with our words, actions, thoughts and behaviors? Do we emulate or mock the example of our Savior in the lives we try to live? 

Be kind. I don't have words strong enough to plead with you to please, love each other. Stop bringing each other publicly before others to shame them. Leave it between them and the Savior. All you get to do is love them. I say these things, in the name of the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love, Taryn

I love this depiction of this story, if you have a minute you should watch it.