2084) I have always gravitated to the Gospels in my Bible study and because of this, I sometimes read but don’t think about something I am very familiar with.   T

his almost happened recently when I was reading John 8.   At the beginning of the chapter, the religious leaders, you know, the ones who were behind the conspiracy to have Jesus put to death, try to trap Jesus in his words.  

They bring an adulterous woman to Jesus. (Where’s the man who committed adultery with her?) They inquired about stoning her to death.  

Jesus says the famous words, let he who is without sin cast the first stone.  

One by one, the men make a choice to leave the stones of accusation and Jesus speaks the words of redemption to the woman. Where are your accusers? Go and sin no more.”

I am very familiar with this event, but I never put it together with what the rest of John 8 reveals.  

Later in the chapter, the Pharisees (religious leaders) once again try to trap Jesus in his words, and Jesus tells them he is God’s son.  

The religious leaders again reach for stones, but this time, they aimed them at Jesus, the redeemer of the woman at the beginning of the chapter. Jesus quietly slips away.  

It’s easy to pick up stones of judgment and in both incidents in John 8, we can hear Jesus’ words.  

Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone. We can choose to drop our stones of judgment