Question

Give your opinion on what Jesus was writing in the sand in John.

8 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.

Answer 1

In my opinion, Jesus was continuing the Hebrew practice, in which when someone commits adultery, both man and woman should be brought along with the witness, if any. Next, the priest is required to stoop down and write the law that had been broken, along with the names of the accused in a not permanent way. The Jesus followed suit, though the people did not follow the practice and brought only the woman, he wanted to follow anyway.