It was October in Jerusalem. The feast celebrating that year's harvest was drawing to a close, [1] and the air had cooled with a hint of approaching winter. It was a time for settling in; a time of softening and slowing from the busy activity of summer. But in the Temple heat that had been building for almost three years was coming to a boil. Jesus was turning the religious world on its head.

Every division of Judaism had tried their hand at tripping up the Teacher. Pharisees, lawyers, Sadducees, scribes and priest, they had all tried. Nothing worked. The debate swirled with charges and counter charges until now the ruling body itself was split on how to manage the threat. [2] Then someone-the Bible doesn't identify who-came up with what they thought would be a sure-fire plan. All they needed was a woman. When Jesus came to the temple grounds the next morning, they would be ready.

Jesus arrived early (probably just after sunrise) and immediately the crowds pressed wanting to know more about God and this "kingdom" of which He so often spoke. Jesus took a seat, indicating He was ready to be their teacher, and the people stood all around showing their willingness to be His students.

He had only been teaching a short while when an angry crowd arrived shoving a frightened woman before them like a surging tide casting about a twig. Shouting they had caught her in the very act of adultery, they threw her at his feet. [3]

Strange. Adultery is usually a private, secret sin. Not many announce the location of a planned tryst or send invitations. Yet, others must have been watching, waiting for the best moment to pounce. I wonder if the man was paid for his role in the conspiracy. I wonder how long it took for her to realize she had been betrayed. I wonder if they gave her time to dress before dragging her into the street. Against her will and faster than a blink, she went from resting in her lover's arms to one of the most famous women in history.

As she rolled to the feet of the still seated Jesus, there was silence. Then, slowly, the Master bent over and began to write in the dust. From His seated position as Teacher, He had something to say but the words were silent. Did He write about the law? About holiness? About the judgment of God on all sinners? We don't know.

Whatever he wrote, it was unsatisfying to those crying out for blood. They could feel the itch of success. Him was trapped at last. There was no more way out for Jesus than the adulteress. If He sided with the law and took part in stoning her, His kingdom was no different than that of Moses. Eye for eye. Tooth for tooth. The prostitutes and tax collectors, publicans and sinners who flocked to Him for hope were out of luck. They would leave in droves. On the other hand, if He offered hope to someone so badly fallen, He made a mockery of righteousness and showed disdain for the Law of God. His silence irritated them and they shouted louder.

Then, Jesus looked up and the crowd quieted once more. With deliberate movements, He rose. No longer the teacher, He moved and stood to become one of the crowd-Jesus the man. Finally, He spoke. "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." Then, for a second time, He stooped and wrote in the sand. Maybe He noted the sins of those who stood around weighing stones in their hands. Did He write about grace? Did He record something about forgiveness? For a second time, the Bible is silent.

We have no idea what Jesus wrote. But, they knew. And, hearing His challenge, seeing the words in the dust, they began to walk away. From the oldest to the youngest, they moved. The curious bystanders left. The anger accusers left. The students who thought they knew this Jesus-one by one they all walked away.

Still quivering in the dirt, waiting for the stones, the woman listened as silence settle all around and at last He spoke. "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"

Lifting her head she looked around. Then, in dazed amazement, replied, "No one, Lord."

It was then Jesus uttered those sweet words which have comforted for two thousand years and brought hope to millions. Words that even today echo peace. "Neither do I condemn you; you and sin no more."