Go, And Sin No More

  She hung her head, overcome with shame. She could feel his eyes on her, and she dared not look up to meet them. All around her she could hear the jeers of the mob, and she could see men picking up stones. She grimaced as she heard the words spoken by the Pharisee— the last words she ever expected to hear. “Master, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Moses commands us to stone her, but what do you say?”

     Mary waited tensely for the Master’s reply. But to her confusion, she heard  him say nothing. Silence was all around her, as every man stood waiting for Jesus’ to say something. What was he doing? Why was he not answering them? Just tell them to stone me and get it over with! her mind screamed.

     Mary dared to lift her head a little, and she peeked through her long hair that hung limply over her face. She saw the Teacher writing in the sand. Writing in the sand! What was he doing that for? Didn’t he know that she was on the verge of life and death? Did he care?

     All around her she could hear the mob begin to murmur. “Master,” the Pharisee said again, more agitated this time, “Didn’t you hear us? What do you say in this matter?” But Jesus’ continued to write in the sand. 

    “What is he writing?” “I don’t know.” “Can’t you see what it says?” Then suddenly, she heard gasps and more murmuring. What was going on? Mary dared not lift her head. She dared not make eye contact with anyone. She felt so filthy. Then, suddenly, Jesus’ rich, kind voice rang out, silencing the crowd.

     “He that is without sin, cast the first stone.” There was utter silence, and Mary cowered against the wall, expecting any moment now to feel the stones smashing into her ribs, pelting her body, beating the very life out of her. But instead she heard, one by one, stones dropping to the ground. Then, one by one, she heard footprints disappear down the street. What was going on?

      After what seemed like forever, Mary heard a gentle voice calling to her.

     “Woman, where are your accusers? Does no man condemn you?”

     Mary dared to lift up her head. Her eye’s met Jesus’ sympathetic ones, then she looked around her. To her astonishment, not one of her accusers was in sight. No one was left there, but her and the Master. Mary, shaking slightly, looked back at Jesus.

     “No man, Lord,” she said wonderingly.

     Jesus looked at her as though she was a lost child come home. “Neither,” he said tenderly, “Do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.”

     Mary looked at him as though she couldn’t believe what he had just said. He smiled again at her, “Go,” he said.

     Mary lifted herself up. She gathered her robe around her, and turned to go home. But, her heart overflowing with gratitude, she flung herself at the feet of her Savior, and crying tears of repentance, she hugged his feet. Mary felt a gentle hand on her head.

     She raised herself to her feet, her eyes overflowing with thankfulness. Then she turned toward home. She nearly ran all the way, her heart was so light, so happy. His voice again and again echoed itself in her brain, “Go, and sin no more.”

-Adriana Carper