She Has Been Forgiven!

The woman lies before Christ in a huddled heap,

sobbing bitterly...

shivering as she listens to the indictment.

The penalty for adultery is stoning.

"Forgive"

Yongsung Kim

Korean artist

Jesus' steady eyes 

take in the situation at a glance.

He sees

 what they try to hide 

from Him

the hard faces

 that have no mercy or pity.

Every hand holds a stone

 and clutching fingers run

along the sharp edges

 with malicious satisfaction.

They have brought the woman to Christ

 as a vindictive afterthought,

 not for a formal trial,

(for they have already tried her)

but in a bold effort to trap Him.

Either He will have to set aside 

the plain commandment of the law,

or tacitly consent to a public execution...

And has He not said often, 

"Be ye therefore merciful".

How can He condemn the woman

and still be merciful?

The circle of bearded men

wait impatiently,

 for His answer...

Christ looks into the faces

 of the men before Him, 

and steadily

with eyes that never blink

He speaks to them:

"He that is without sin among you,

let him first cast a stone at her."

His keen glance rests

 upon the woman's accusers

 one by one...

There is a thud

 of stone after stone

 falling on the pavement.

Not many of the Pharisees are left now.

Looking into their faces

 Christ sees

 into the yesterdays that 

 lie deep in the pools 

of memory and conscience.

He sees

 into their very hearts...

Idolater...

Liar...

Drunkard...

Murderer...

Adulterer...

One by one,

 they creep away

like animals slinking

into the shadows...

Shuffling off 

into the crowded streets

 to lose themselves

 in the multitudes.

"He that is without sin among you, 

let him cast the first stone at her..."

But no stones have been thrown.

They lie around the woman on the pavement.

She alone is left at the feet of Christ.

The stillness is broken 

only by her sobbing.

She still has not lifted her head...

And now Christ looks at her.

He does not speak for a long moment.

Then, with eyes full of understanding, 

He says softly:

"Woman, where are those thine accusers?

Hath no man condemned thee?"

And she answers,

"No man, Lord."

This is all the woman says 

from beginning to end.

She has no excuse for her conduct.

She makes no attempt

 to justify what she has done.

And Christ looking at her, 

seeing 

the tear-stained cheeks,

seeing

 further into her heart, 

seeing

 the contrition there,

says to her, 

"Neither do I condemn thee:
 go, and sin no more..."

And His voice

 is like a candle at twilight,

like a soft angelus

 at the close of the day...

like the singing of a bird

 after the storm...

It is healing music

 for the sin-sick heart.

All is quiet for a while.

If she breathes her gratitude,

 it is so soft that only

He hears it.

Perhaps He smiles upon her,

 as she slowly raises her eyes,

a slow, sad smile

 of one who knows that

  He Himself

has to pay the price

 of that absolution...

She has looked into

 the eyes of Christ.

She has seen God.

She has been 

accused,

convicted,

judged,

 but not condemned,

She has been forgiven!

And now her head is up.

Her eyes are shining

 like stars,

for has she not seen

the greatest miracle of all?

It is more wonderful

 than the miracle of creation...

more mysterious than the stars...

more melodious 

than any symphony...

more wonderful

 than life itself...

that God is willing,

 for Christ's sake,

 to forgive sinners

like you and me...

"She Has Been Forgiven!"
 An excerpt from a sermon by
 Reverend Peter Marshall Sr.
(1902-1949)
Twice-appointed Chaplain of
the United States Senate