I am creating a series of art and poems based on the words Jesus spoke to women. This poem is based on the story of the woman caught in adultery from John 8:1-11.
Did he come to temple at dawn
knowing I’d be caught
in a top ten sin
dragged alone
defenseless, half-dressed
a pawn in the lawkeepers’ game to
catch the strange teacher?
their one solution
is stones
their goal–
their rightness, not mine
they demand He choose
the sinner
or the stone
as if stones could clean
my conscience crushed
by condemnation
they spread so thick
unwilling to lift
even a finger to relieve
sagging shoulders
stooping below their anger
He diffuses with a finger
tracing dirt
and doesn’t take a side
not theirs
not mine
not even neutral middle
He is a whole
unto himself
new wine, new wineskins
“He who is without sin among you,
let him throw the first stone at her.”
the oldest lawkeeper
releases first
thud of rock displacing dirt
still resounding in my chest
when the next drops,
each one releasing me to
Jesus
alone now, His eyes on me:
“Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”
“No one,” I reply
“Neither do I condemn you. Go your way.
From now on, sin no more.”
like it’s the simplest thing
to live unburdened
a law of love
seared from the inside
solving sin without stones
caught in
grace
COPYRIGHT/USAGE: All writing, artwork and photos are copyright Marydean Draws. Please do not repost or resell on another website. I’m happy for you to use my coloring pages and other printables for home, school, and ministry. If you share content, please link back to the original post. Thank you!
“They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.” (Matthew 23:4 ESV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 ESV)
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.“” (Romans 13:8-9 ESV)
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds.” (Hebrews 10:16 ESV)
“Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:17 ESV)
COPYRIGHT: All poetry, artwork and photos are copyright Marydean Draws. My printables can be used for home, school, church, or ministry. Please do not repost on another website. For other uses, please contact me.
