The eighth chapter of John’s Gospel opens with a familiar scene. A crowd of people has gathered to listen to Jesus, and the religious leaders interrupt in order to put Jesus on the spot, to test him. They bring a woman of whom they are thrilled to make an example. Quoting Leviticus 20:10, they name drop the biggest name they can: Moses. Moses says this woman should be stoned to death for her sin; what say you, Jesus?!

Now, Jesus knew they were misquoting Leviticus 20:10. He could easily have given them a public dressing down, saying they should know better than to leave out the part of that verse that says both the man and woman are to be stoned to death for their adultery. He could have turned to the crowd and cleared up the scriptural reference, making an example of the men who were making an example of the woman.

But, Jesus thinks a while, scribbles in the sand a bit, and when he speaks, he doesn’t address the old law—at least not in the way everyone there likely expected. He offers them a new lens. He knows the law. The religious leaders have just spit some of it his way. The air is thick with their words, and the woman knows she is in danger if it is applied. Amid all that tension, Jesus offers a simple suggestion: you who are without sin…you cast the first stone.

Jesus protects the vulnerable while calling the powerful to repentance. In one sentence, he diffuses the violent scene, keeps the law, and offers a new lens for righteousness.

The chapter continues with Jesus asking them to see through a new lens.

The religious leaders say his testimony on his own behalf is not valid;
Jesus says the Father who sent him testifies on his behalf.
They say Abraham is their father;
Jesus says God is the Father (and they aren’t acting like children of either one).
They say Jesus is too young to know Abraham;
Jesus says, “…before Abraham was, I am.”

Jesus persists, in this chapter and beyond, in teaching whoever will listen that God is doing a new thing.