Condemned?

I was tired taking pictures of snow and intended not to put anymore on this blog.  Then a few nights ago we had this surprise snow.  A melting lake and four cold naked chairs that don't want to look at each other.

The scribes and Pharisees have no shame.  They drag this woman caught in adultery before a crowd (John 8:1-11.) In their determination to catch Jesus out, they treat her as a pawn.  Jesus is so angry at them that he bends over and doodles in the dirt to calm himself down.  He would love to just ignore them.  (There are lots of explanations of what Jesus is doing writing in the dirt.  This is the one I like best.)  Finally he says, "Let whoever is sinless throw the first stone." 

To the woman, Jesus says gently, "Neither do I condemn you."  But he doesn't condone her adultery.  "Go and sin no more."  He treats the worst sinner among us with the same mercy.