What was Jesus writing in the sand when he bent down?

WHAT DID JESUS ACTUALLY WRITE IN THE SAND?

By Elijah Asuo Wiredu

The story is told in John 8:1-11 about a woman who was caught in adultery. She was brought to Jesus to know the judgment he would pass on her. In the story, Jesus had just returned from Mt. Olives where he was probably praying throughout the night. It is also worth noting that the people who brought the woman were not ordinary people in the Jewish community- they were teachers of the law and Pharisees. They even quoted the Law of Moses to Jesus that Moses had commanded that such a woman be stoned to death.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

John 8:1-6

I like verse 6 which says “They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him”. It’s obvious they were trapping Jesus because if they knew what Moses had commanded about such a woman, there was no need to take her to Jesus for what he would say. But Jesus, knowing what was in their heart didn’t give a yes-or-no answer. Instead, he bent down and started using his finger to scribble in the sand. When he lifted his head, what he said to them was “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her”. And he continued writing in the sand. By the time he lifted his eyes, they were all gone.

Many people say that they left because they were all sinners in one way or the other. I believe that as sinners as they were it was in their hands that they had the law and they were always punishing people without anyone saying anything.

So what did Jesus write in the sand?

Coming from the previous chapter 7, Jesus had claimed to be the living water and the Jews didn’t believe him so he came outside the temple when the feast of Tabernacles was going on inside. Now Jesus, the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees who had brought the woman knew a prophecy that Jeremiah had given in Jeremiah 17:13

Lord, you are the hope of Israel;
    all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust