We’ve had an ongoing story the last two weeks. (See “One Unknown” and “Setting Up Traps”)

Apheimi is deep in sin and has devised a scheme to satisfy his revenge. He manages to get word to Marnah, his previous lover, that a passionate young man will be waiting to see her for the evening at a certain house. The house just happens to be conveniently positioned not far from where Jesus has been teaching.

At dawn, the people have already begun to gather once again to listen to Jesus. He sits down to teach them. Meanwhile, Apheimi and two Pharisees break into the designated house and grab Marnah. (After all, three witnesses are even better than the needed two witnesses.) They drag her out the door, down the street, and shove her in front of Jesus.

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? John 8:4-5

Marnah stands there shivering in the morning dew with only a sheet wrapped around  her. She stares at the ground, ashamed to look at anyone for she feels the daggers of their stares. Several Pharisees gather around with stones in hand. Jesus slowly walks over to them and  looks each one of the accusers in the eye. Slowly, he bends down and writes on the ground with his finger.

Apheimi stretches his head around the group to see what’s happening.

“What’s he doing?” he whispers to his partner in crime. “

“I don’t know.”

Finally, one toward the front asks again, “What do you say? Stone her or let her go?”

Jesus straightened up and said to them, “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. John 8:7-8

It takes a moment for the words to sink in, but one by one, three of the older Pharisees in the front of the group drop their stones and walk away. Then another and another. Finally, Apheimi’s partner drops his stone.

Apheimi looks over at Marnah. Her hair is all disheveled; a tear streaks down her cheek. For the first time, Apheimi is deeply aware of his own sin.

It is just as the teacher said. I held lust in my heart and acted upon it. When she used me, I didn’t feel shame; I felt anger. My anger turned to hate, my hate to rage and revenge. Had Jesus said the word, I would have committed murder.

Marnah is aware that only one is left. She glances up to meet Apheimi’s glazed eyes. He turns his head, drops his stone, and walks away. As he leaves, he hears Jesus say,

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you. Go and leave your life of sin.” John 8:10-11

When we read this episode in the Gospel of John, we usually focus on Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. The accusers are there, but it is like they are a unit, not individual men, each with his own story.

Apheimi is a name I made up, but remember, someone had to arrange this confrontation. Had that arranger been one the woman’s victims? We don’t know. Did even one of them come away from this experience with a changed heart? We don’t know that either, but it is possible that just as the woman found forgiveness, maybe, just maybe one of the accusers eventually found forgiveness as well. I purposely chose the name Apheimi. It is a Greek word for forgiven.

~ Joyce ~