Bible question for you!

[lovelace]

Someone emailed me this question today. For those whom are theologians or studied this deeply, what is the answer?

Here's a little question for you that you might find interesting. Remember the account in John 8:3-11 where Jesus writes in the sand? What did he write and what is the source for him doing so?


God Bless, Mike

[Shane Gaydon]

It is impossible to know exactly what He wrote. There is really no indication of what is was. I can tell you that this is the only account in the Bible of Jesus writing anything.

[lovelace]

The person that asked me this, said they had an answer and emailed it to me. I am going to dig into it and see the validity.

God Bless, Mike

[Shane Gaydon]

He seemed to slight it, and turned a deaf ear to it: He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. It is impossible to tell, and therefore needless to ask, what he wrote; but this is the only mention made in the gospels of Christ's writing. Eusebius indeed speaks of his writing to Abgarus, king of Edessa. Some think they have a liberty of conjecture as to what he wrote here. Grotius says, It was some grave weighty saying, and that it was usual for wise men, when they were very thoughtful concerning any thing, to do so. Jerome and Ambrose suppose he wrote, Let the names of these wicked men be written in the dust. Others this, The earth accuses the earth, but the judgment is mine. Christ by this teaches us to be slow to speak when difficult cases are proposed to us, not quickly to shoot our bolt; and when provocations are given us, or we are bantered, to pause and consider before we reply; think twice before we speak once: The heart of the wise studies to answer. Our translation from some Greek copies, which add, mē prospoioumenos (though most copies have it not), give this account of the reason of his writing on the ground, as though he heard them not. He did as it were look another way, to show that he was not willing to take notice of their address, saying, in effect, Who made me a judge or a divider? It is safe in many cases to be deaf to that which it is not safe to answer, Psa_38:13. Christ would not have his ministers to be entangled in secular affairs. Let them rather employ themselves in any lawful studies, and fill up their time in writing on the ground (which nobody will heed), than busy themselves in that which does not belong to them. But, when Christ seemed as though he heard them not, he made it appear that he not only heard their words, but knew their thoughts.
(2.) When they importunately, or rather impertinently, pressed him for an answer, he turned the conviction of the prisoner upon the prosecutors, Joh_8:7.
[1.] They continued asking him, and his seeming not to take notice of them made them the more vehement; for now they thought sure enough that they had run him aground, and that he could not avoid the imputation of contradicting either the law of Moses, if he should acquit the prisoner, or his own doctrine of mercy and pardon, if he should condemn her; and therefore they pushed on their appeal to him with vigour; whereas they should have construed his disregard of them as a check to their design, and an intimation to them to desist, as they tendered their own reputation.
[2.] At last he put them all to shame and silence with one word: He lifted up himself, awaking as one out of sleep (Psa_78:65), and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

[pitbull]

I heard one preacher say that he thought Jesus was playing tic-tac-toe just to make the Pharisees even madder! Personally, I think He was writing a verse from the Law of Moses that dealt with the situation according to how He addressed the situation. It really doesn't matter what He was writing. If it was meant for us to know, God would have also recorded it in the Word of God, the Bible.

[Doug Parrish]

Bryan, I agree with your last statement. I personally would hate to venture a guess, since that would be adding to the Word. I will paraphrase what I heard a preacher guess one time, and it's been a while, so I hope I'm getting my story straight. The preacher said he thought Jesus was writing down the sins of those who wanted to cast the stones.

God Bless.
Doug P.