Casting the First Stone
Perhaps one of the most well-known events in the life of Christ is recorded by John the apostle in the eighth chapter of his gospel account. Though this passage is questioned by some textual critics regarding its inclusion, we read of a woman who was caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. The mob was ready to stone her, but the question about what should be done was posed to our Savior as a test. You can just see in your mind the image of this woman pushed down into the dust at the feet of the Lord. Perhaps that is why he stooped down and wrote something on the ground. Maybe he was trying to place himself there with this hurting woman so she wouldn’t have to be alone in the dirt.
In the midst of this tragic moment, we recall Jesus’ incredible reply – “Let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone.” Nobody did. Every individual present was convicted in their own conscience of their personal sin and one by one they walked away from the troubling scene. Only Jesus and the woman remained. There were many stone holders but no stone throwers on that day. Praise God! This event in the life of the Messiah still testifies today of the mercy and forgiveness of the Creator. And then, on top of all of it, we have the final, beautiful, resounding words from Christ to this struggling woman, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
As we consider what Jesus said to the mob we are reminded that the conscience is a powerful thing. It constitutes one’s spiritual mind. Our conscience is to be active and pure and good and clean (1 Tim. 1:5, 19). It needs not to be seared (1 Tim. 4:2). We should hold the mystery of the faith with a good conscience (1 Tim. 3:19). Our conscience is the genuine representation of the heart which lies within us. Our conscience, if spiritually healthy, can either condemn us to or deliver us from the wrath of God (Rom. 2:12-14).
Our hypocrisy is often revealed by the way we view people and events. We tend to read this passage and we say, “What a terrible, hateful, deplorable mob!” It is probably hard to imagine yourself being one of the people with a stone in hand, ready to punish – ready to kill! But it occurs to me that there is something much worse than gathering stones for throwing. After all, God approved and even commanded stoning for certain occasions.
But then Jesus came, and that changed everything. His coming taught that there was something worse than picking up stones to throw at others. You see, it would be better to hold a stone in your hand than a stone in your heart! At least the mob was convicted! At least they still had a conscience! They dropped the stones and walked away. They weren’t as bad as we are when our sins no longer bother us.
It’s not enough to drop the stone. That should be a given. There’s also a stone within us, deep in our cold, sinful hearts – that at times, must indeed, be cast.
“Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.” – Deut. 10:16
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AUTHOR: Jeremiah Tatum
