"Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned" (John 8:5).
The nine-year-old Harmon twins crossed a park in 1836. The innocent walk was rudely interrupted by an older classmate's angry taunts. The twins fled their harasser, but as they did, one of them, Ellen, turned to see the bully's location. As she did, the girl hurled a stone, striking her in the face. She fell to the ground unconscious, bloodied, and severely injured. The rock left her disfigured with lifelong health issues. It's a good illustration of why we shouldn't cast stones.
In John 8, there is a story of some religious leaders readied to cast stones at an adulterous woman. They justified this by referencing the law of Moses. The real issue was not the law, as they had violated its precepts. Why was the man who laid with this woman not brought? Where was the due process? There’s no trial, just stones of judgment to execute her.
Their real target was Jesus, who threatened their religious enterprise. These scribes and Pharisees put Jesus in an untenable position. If He agreed to the woman's stoning, He would run afoul of Rome's civil authority. But if Jesus said to stone her, He would run afoul of the law of Moses.
These men's hearts were stony as they carried an agenda of personal destruction. So do those who throw stones in the church. They disguise their agendas with a cloak of righteousness. They cast unfounded aspersions at church leaders or members actively engaged in ministry. Some cast stones to obscure their sins, others to wound and gain influence, and others are spiritual bullies who enjoy knocking others down.
Whatever the agenda, they cause damage to the body of Christ. Like these "religious" men, they care not about the impact of their actions.
Jesus' response to them was brilliant. He got them to look at their sordid history instead of this fallen woman. Perhaps He wrote on the temple dust their sins or the laws they violated. What He wrote brought conviction. Then He instructed the "one without sin to throw the first stone." Jesus revealed the truth of their hearts. In shame, they dropped their stones one by one.
Ellen Harmon had great difficulty breathing through her nose for years. She attended school scarcely and found learning difficult. Something interesting happened to the girl who hit her with the stone. The teacher had her assist Ellen with her school lessons. That meant she had to see her victim's face up close. She witnessed the struggles and pain that her misdeed caused. I imagine she never threw another rock. It's the work of God—to get us to drop our stones.
Instead of casting stones, Jesus cast mercy and forgiveness. In so doing, He didn't violate the law of Moses or usurp Rome's authority. He does tell the woman to discontinue her sinful course, "sin no more." Indeed, her life changed after this striking encounter with Christ. Has yours?
How many rocks have you thrown? God wants us to drop the stones in our hands and empty the pockets of those we carry. Instead of casting stones, let's cast ourselves at the feet of Jesus.
