Dragged naked & clothed with shame.
Sentenced before the trial began.
The self-righteous, with stones
readied to be bloodied.
A court is called to session.
The adulteress & the adulterated
before the One, who rights all wrongs
and ends all false writs.
The One who’d stooped
to fashion men with dust,
now writes on it.
As if on soiled hearts.
His injunctions? Their sins?
Moses’ Laws?
What does He write so furiously
that earth be an insufficient scroll?
The crowds strain to read
what’s plain to her accusers.
What was for these accusers eyes,
was for their hearts too.
Earth’s dust is witness
as heaven bends in grace.
The self-affirmed leave
but this question stayed.
Had the accusers stood trial,
would they’ve been stoned instead?
Would the sentence they brought
fall on them?
Without one stone cast
they were bared, caught & shamed
As these accusers
became their own jury.
Now, to the left stands
the woman, left alone.
To the right, stoops
the One who’s always right.
This verdict has a reason.
For this Righteous Judge
will take her place,
be stripped & condemned, as her.
And that day, the woman is freed
to sin no more.
She soars on the wings of grace
& savours the sweet taste of forgiveness.
Have you noticed?
How light a heart feels
that’s packed with gratitude.
True forgiveness births awe.
The crowds watch
as the sea parts into two.
The rescued will pass through,
but drowns the rebel.
Read what’s written in the sacred scrolls.
Sin is punished, but payment’s nailed.
Rescue is possible only with this Judge
You’re “Righteous in Me” is His verdict.
-Inspired by a similar rescue of grace
John 8:2-11