Then the teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught in
the act of adultery. They made her stand in front of everyone. “Master,” they said, “this woman
has been caught in the act of adultery. Now the law of Moses orders that such women be
stoned to death; but you, what do you say?” They said this to test Jesus, in order to have some
charge against him.
Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. And as they continued to
ask him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who has no sin be
the first to throw a stone at her.” And he bent down, again, writing on the ground.
As a result of these words, they went away, one by one, starting with the elders, and Jesus
was left alone, with the woman standing before him. Then Jesus stood up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one.” And Jesus
said, “Neither do I condemn you; go away and don’t sin again.”
Reflect
Susanna faces an impossible choice. She could do something she knew was wrong
– violate God’s law and betray her marriage commitment – or she could remain true to
her values and face public denunciation and a shameful death. She chose to accept
persecution while remaining faithful to the Lord. We too often face choices between
doing what is right and doing what is easy. We may not risk death, though some people
who stand up against violence and hate have been killed. Many more people face the
loss of a job, of a friendship, of status – all for holding fast to what they know is right.
These losses, however necessary they may be, are not easy. They bring pain and
other difficulties. We can hold on to the sure and certain hope that the God who
saved Susanna will be there for us as well, drawing us to himself. And, like Daniel,
we can lend our voices and our resources to those who must make these difficult
choices.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023