After being on the beach one day with prostitutes, drug dealers, abusive husbands, and battered women, I began to wonder, “What did Jesus write in the sand that day that caused the silence of the Pharisees? What was it about this Friend of sinners that left these accusations in the dust?” (See John 8:2-11)

Did He write, “I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord” (Hosea 2:19-20)?

Did He write from the prophets, reminding them of how their torn love from the Father was like being caught in the act of adultery?

Did He list out the laws… all the major and minor that we are not capable of keeping?

Did He write the secrets of men’s hearts?

Did He write of His faithful love?

Does it matter what He wrote? Or was it simply that LOVE, incarnate, was in their midst?

Many have wondered. I am wondering now because I feel as though I am sometimes caught by those, who though well meaning, are trying to set a trap for me. “In the law of Moses…” they say. Oh but what does the law of Love say? Does this Love demand that we lay down our sin before we can approach Him? Or does it take on our sin, knowing full well we cannot overcome our brokenness on our own?

Many point out that Jesus told this woman, “Go and sin no more.”

How many see that Jesus told the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7)?

I am not without sin. I refuse to throw a stone at these ones. I will let Him be the one to say, “Go and sin no more.” I will hear Him whisper this in my own ear. I will read His scrawlings in the sand until these marks of love are inscribed on my heart. But I let my stone fall to the ground. I will learn the way of love, from the One who came, not to condemn, but to save. And I will walk with Him in this way so that Love is made more manifest in me.