At dawn He went to the temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them.

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. “Teacher,” they said to Him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say?” They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him.

Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, Lord,” she answered.

“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” (John 8:1-11)

Jesus didn’t judge. He forgave. Although this story does not appear in the earliest manuscripts, it is so contrary to normal expectations that it must be a genuine episode from Jesus’ life.

The guilt of the woman is not in question. It is, however, intriguing to notice that her accusers brought her alone, without the man she committed adultery with, despite the fact that she was “caught in the act.” In a case of adultery, according to the law of Moses both the man and the woman were equally at fault and equally destined for a death by stoning.

What Jesus might have written on the ground is not disclosed. There has been endless speculation but too often such speculation becomes a distraction from the story’s disturbing point: Jesus does not condemn the woman, though she deserves it. But grace, by its nature is unjust. The woman had betrayed her marriage vows. She had hurt someone deeply. And she was going to get away with it.

Jesus forgave her without an expression of regret or promise of reform from her at all. Jesus merely tells her not to do it again. Forgiveness doesn’t make the sin okay. Sin is never okay. What forgiveness does is make it as if the sin never happened in the first place.

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