John 8:3-4  ...and, making her stand before all of them, they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery."

A woman is being humiliated by accusers armed not only with legal backing for their argument but stones in their hands to execute their judgment. But all of this is only an attempt to test Jesus "so that they might have some charge to bring against him" (John 8:6).

There is ample evidence that we so often have a hard heart of stone, exhibiting no problem whatsoever judging others. We may even invoke God as our witness. What we do not show as readily is a kind heart of mercy toward others.

Jesus did not come in order to exercise legal judgment. He seems altogether disinterested in such efforts to put others down. He came to bring us a directive of grace. And such grace is for all. He would stake that on the cross, where he was publicly humiliated and put to death for all. Through Christ's death and resurrection, we do not seek the humiliation of others but the bestowal of grace. We trust that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us" (2 Corinthians 5:19).

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