If you carelessly fall off of an ocean liner, you want a life preserver.  If you get caught driving drunk, you want to be bailed out.  Some might say, “Why should I help, you deserve the consequences.”

The Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who had been caught in adultery (John 8:2-11).  They figured that if he condemned her to death, he would violate Roman law and appear unmerciful.  If he let her go, he would appear to contradict the Law of Moses and condone adultery.  Either way they had him, so they thought. 

Jesus wrote something on the ground and said (John 8:7 ESV): “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."

Whatever he wrote must have convicted the Pharisees.  One-by-one they walked away.

John 8:10-12 says: Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"  She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."

Again Jesus spoke to [the people in the temple], saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

By the Law, the woman deserved death, but she got life.  She received mercy from the Lord of Life.  Note this, Jesus told her to stop sinning.  Those who receive mercy, the forgiveness of their sins, are to be transformed.  They are to walk in the light of life.

The light of life is the real life preserver.  Whoever keeps his eyes on Jesus Christ and His righteousness does not continue to walk in the darkness of the sinful nature, the world and the devil.  Instead, they continually return to the light for mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life.  We do not know what Jesus wrote on the ground to the Pharisees, but we do know what is recorded in the Bible so that people might be saved.  Read it.  It is the light of life.  Amen.

Pastor Raymond Van Buskirk, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Baytown, TX www.rlcbaytown.org 1200 E. Lobit Street Baytown, TX 77520