Writings in the Dust

I wrote last week that I am taking a writing class online through our local community college, Rowan Cabarrus Community College.    A few times a week, I go to the class web site on the internet doing a series of readings, assignments, and online discussions.  My class got me to thinking about the writing of  Jesus.  Now, many of you have read sayings of Jesus.  We find them  in places like the sermon on the mount in the gospel of Matthew in our Bible.   All of you can say that you have read my writings simply because you are reading this blog.  But what about the writings of Jesus?  While you may have read the sayings of Jesus, you probably have not read the writings of Jesus.

We hear about the writings of Jesus in John 8: 6-8 where we read:   ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.   But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.         I find myself wondering today what Jesus wrote in the dust of the ground.    As the religious leaders stood around him,  did Jesus write in the dirt the sins of the religious leaders or the names of the men before him who had sinned against God?   With a woman caught in the very act of adultery also before him, did Jesus write in the dust of the ground the name of the man who was a partner to this woman in her act of adultery?   

None of us will ever read any writings of Jesus as you are reading my writing in this blog today.  The writing of Jesus in the dirt of the Galilean ground is  wiped away even as our sins are wiped away by the One who told a woman that day to “go and sin no more.”  I don’t know about you, but I am glad that my sins are also wiped away.    Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:    O God,  we give you thanks that Christ Jesus forgave a woman of her sins long ago, and forgives our sins today.   As forgiven people, help us go share your love and forgiveness with others;  through Christ our Lord.  Amen.