Sep 17 | Resistance Lectionary Part 12: By my Side

Today’s citation: John 8:2-11

Where are you going?

Far beyond where the horizon lies

And the land sinks into mellow blueness

Oh please, take me with you.

These lyrics from “By My Side,” from the musical Godspell, are sung by a character representing the woman in this story. They have always haunted me, asking the question that I’ve asked the text myself: What happened to the woman after this strange encounter?

Many scholars believe this story was a late addition, for it shares none of the language so prevalent in the Gospel of John. It only occurs in John and is unique among all four gospels. Most of the stories where Jesus argues with authorities make it clearer that they are laying traps (there is no lawful basis for not healing someone on the Sabbath, for example) rather than confronting Jesus with the law. It’s also filled with cryptic moments (what does Jesus write in the dirt?) Early biblical scholars wondered if he wrote all of the sins of the men accusing the woman before them, although the text gives no indication that any of them saw what he wrote. It’s significant for the purposes of this lectionary that Jesus literally humbles himself, getting close to the earth. We can see this as a highlighting of their privilege, and a renunciation of his own.

Ancient Jewish Levitical law did mandate stoning for adultery, but required multiple witnesses to the crime. This did not necessarily mean that the law was never abused. It’s also significant that the man is not present, as the law requires the stoning of both parties. Perhaps he was protected by his status, or he had fled. This was in a world that had different attitudes toward rape and sexual coercion, so it’s entirely possible that the act was not consensual.

For the purposes of this story the substance of the accusation or the crime don’t matter, because they don’t matter to Jesus. He even straightens up to speak to her, putting them on equal footing. It may seem presumptuous for him to say, “Do not sin again,” but considering the proscribed response to such a sin, it is even more radical that he tells her to go on her way while still assuming that she has committed the sin.