Judgement First, Compassion Second

To prove that God is compassionate, Christians tend to reference the account of the woman caught in adultery found in John 8:1-11. I will admit that Jesus's famous words, "Neither do I condemn you," often comfort me when I wrestle with my own sin. However, I don't believe this particular biblical scene is absent of judgement. In fact, it might be a scene filled with terrifying judgement. I will explain why in a moment.If anyone were to ask me what section of scripture is the most frustrating for me, I would point to John 8:1-11. I am fully aware that all of scripture is shrouded in mystery, and only by the Spirit's power is it discerned. However, this section of scripture appears to be more mysterious. The Gospel writer records that Jesus writes on the ground, but it is never revealed what He writes. The script may be important; it may be inconsequential. Christ's act of bending down and writing has always fascinated me and I have numerous ideas as to what I think He wrote.

I am aware that my thoughts are only conjecture. My guesses aren't inerrant. However, I think we can benefit from considering one of my guesses. What if Jesus wrote a Torah reference which exposed Israel's adulterous ways? There are plenty He could choose. By quoting Hosea or Ezekiel, Jesus would show all the accusing Pharisees that their ancestors should have been stoned to death, if God followed the law to the letter. The entire nation of Israel would be non-existent, if God followed the law of Moses. Can you see Jesus bending down and etching Jeremiah 3 in the sand? (They didn't section scripture into chapters back then, but you understand my point.)

John 8 mentions that the Pharisees continued to push Jesus for an answer even after He wrote in the ground. "Do you condemn this woman?" They ask again.
"Do you condemn this woman?" Jesus asks. (John 8:7)
Jesus gave the Pharisee's the seat to judge, and they ran in fear. They realized the gravity of the situation. They were full of sin too. I don't think John 8 is only about one woman's sin. I don't think this is only a good story to prove that God is compassionate and forgiving of our sin. I believe it might be about God's covenant with Israel and how she was herself a harlot. It proves that Jesus addresses sin.

Why do I think this story could be a story of terrifying judgement? Does Jesus follow the law of Moses? Yes. He did in this case. Later in the gospels, when these same Pharisees reject Jesus during his triumphal entry, He gives this judgement:

And when he drew near and saw Jerusalem, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Is God a God of compassion? Yes. He is the lamb of God. He died in our place to save us from our sins. He gave the woman caught in adultery the chance to leave her life of darkness. He shows us compassion by silencing our accusers. He weeps over our sin. However, He never fails to expose it! Compassion comes with a price. We must see our wretchedness. All of it. We must face a terrifying judgement before we can face compassion. You WERE caught in the VERY act of ADULTERY!!! That is our judgement, and it is terrifying. Thank God for His choice to have compassion.