by Dennis Gladden, By Green Pastures, ©2026
(Jul. 22, 2026) — The posse had no time for pleasantries.
“Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. The law commands us to stone her. But what do You say?”1
Jesus said nothing.
They wanted His judgment. Jesus hadn’t come for judgment; He brought faith instead.
Before He came, they would have stoned her. The law demanded it. They would be justified.
But now, Jesus would reveal another law: Whatever is not from faith is sin.
They wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.
He was silent.
This was significant because faith comes by hearing. Jesus gave them nothing to hear.
“Say something,” the schemers demanded.
More silence.
Tension filled the moments.
The law had already spoken; they knew its sentence: Stone her until she dies.
They were eager to execute the law.
And her.
And to justify themselves while trapping Jesus.
They gripped the jagged stones. Why didn’t Jesus say something?
He had knelt and was scribbling in the sand.
They waited.
Her life hung in the balance. So did faith.
The finger that had etched the words in stone, “You shall not commit adultery,” scratched letters in the sand.
They watched.
The silence trapped them.
Should they stone her without Jesus’ approval? Hold off with the rocks and disobey the law?
The words of the law closed in like prison walls.
She is an adulteress. Condemned. She must die.
Stand down, drop the stones, and you break the law. Condemned. No better than her.
No escape.
Jesus still said nothing. In His silence was the verdict.
Whatever is not from faith is sin.2
Curse the silence.
Jesus stopped writing. At last, He spoke.
He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.
Read the rest here.
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