Introduction
Picture this scene: a woman is dragged into the temple courts, humiliated, exposed, guilty. A crowd gathers with stones in hand, ready to enforce the law. Religious leaders stand with accusations prepared. But then Jesus does something unexpected—He bends down and writes in the dust, and then speaks words that would echo through eternity: "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."
Today, we're going to explore what it means to put our rocks down.
The Scene: A Trap Set with Human Bait
The Pharisees weren't really concerned about justice that day. They were using this woman as bait to trap Jesus. If He said to stone her, He'd contradict His message of mercy. If He said to let her go, He'd appear to dismiss the Law of Moses. They thought they had Him cornered.
But notice what they reveal about themselves: Where was the man? The law required both parties to be punished, yet only the woman was brought forward. Their selective enforcement exposed their hypocrisy before Jesus even spoke a word.
Jesus Writes in the Dust
We don't know what Jesus wrote in the dirt that day. Some speculate He wrote their sins. Others suggest He was simply giving them time to think. But here's what we do know: Jesus didn't rush to judgment. He paused. He gave space for conviction to do its work.
In our rush to condemn, how often do we pause? How often do we give grace time to speak?
"Let Him Who Is Without Sin..."
When Jesus finally stood up, His words cut through the religious pride like a sword: "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
This wasn't a dismissal of sin—it was an indictment of hypocrisy. Jesus exposed the truth that we all stand guilty before God. The rocks these men held weren't just meant for the woman; they were symbols of their own self-righteousness.
One by one, beginning with the oldest, they dropped their stones and walked away. Age and experience had taught them something: they were not innocent.
Three Rocks We Need to Put Down
1. The Rock of Judgment
We all carry stones of judgment, ready to throw them at others' failures while hiding our own. We see the speck in our brother's eye but ignore the plank in our own. Jesus calls us to put down the rock of harsh judgment and pick up the mirror of self-examination.
2. The Rock of Self-Righteousness
The Pharisees believed their religious credentials made them superior. But Jesus reminds us that we all fall short of God's glory. When we compare ourselves to others rather than to Christ's standard, we're holding a rock we have no right to throw.
3. The Rock of Unforgiveness
Perhaps the heaviest rock we carry is unforgiveness. We clutch onto past hurts, ready to hurl them back at those who've wronged us. But Jesus shows us another way: mercy triumphs over judgment.
"Neither Do I Condemn You"
After everyone left, Jesus turned to the woman with words that changed everything: "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."
Notice the balance: Jesus didn't condemn her, but He didn't excuse her sin either. He offered both grace and a call to transformation. This is the heart of the Gospel—we are forgiven not so we can continue in sin, but so we can be freed from it.
Application: What Rock Are You Holding?
As we close, I want you to examine your own hands. What rocks are you holding today?
Is it a rock aimed at someone who hurt you?
Is it a rock of superiority over someone whose sins seem worse than yours?
Is it a rock of judgment toward someone whose struggle is different from your own?
Jesus is saying to you what He said that day in the temple courts: "Put your rock down."
Not because sin doesn't matter—it does. Not because there shouldn't be accountability—there should be. But because you and I are not the judges. We are fellow sinners saved by grace, called to extend to others the same mercy we've received.
Conclusion
The woman caught in adultery walked away that day not because she deserved mercy, but because Jesus offered it. She was guilty, and yet she was freed. She was condemned by the law, but released by grace.
The same is true for us. We stand before God guilty, yet offered forgiveness through Christ. And having received that forgiveness, we're called to live differently—both in how we see our own sin and how we respond to others'.
So today, put your rock down. Let go of judgment, self-righteousness, and unforgiveness. And pick up something better: the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
Remember: the only One who had the right to throw a stone that day was the One who chose to put it down.
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:17
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with our hands full of rocks—rocks of judgment, pride, and unforgiveness. Help us to see ourselves as You see us: broken, yet beloved; guilty, yet forgiven. Give us the courage to put down our stones and extend to others the grace You've shown us. Transform our hearts to reflect the mercy of Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.
