45-SanhedrinAdulteress-A

And We Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus

Sanhedrin and Adulteress
HOLIER THAN THOU

AD 24-29
Jerusalem, Judea

�� Noe had never intended for her life to end up like this.� She had always been religious.� She had never dreamed she would become the very thing she hated.

�� It had started innocently.� She had always lived in Jerusalem and loved going over to the Temple every chance she had.� It got so her friends called her a fanatic.� Maybe that is what she was.� She never did do anything half way.

�� There was always something going on at the Temple.� Sometimes there were things she could help with such as repairing the choir robes or polishing the silver trumpets.� Sometimes she just wandered around and listened in to whatever was going on.� Her parents said it was okay as long as she did not neglect her responsibilities at home.

�� There was one particular priest ~ Mordecai ~ who had taken a special interest in her.� She had attended several of his classes.� She had asked him theological questions in private.� He encouraged her.�

�� Once Noe went to him in tears with a personal problem and he comforted her.� He wiped away her tears and held her in the way that she had wished her father would sometimes hold her.� Protectively.� That is all.� She was proud of her association with Priest Mordecai.� He was a distinguished member of the Sanhedrin, and yet he paid attention to her - common her.

�� One day during Priest Mordecai's lecture, he seemed so discouraged.� Noe had never seen him like that before and wanted to comfort him as he had sometimes comforted her.� She went to him and held him in her arms.� He had continued to cling to her for longer than usual.� His hands had slipped.� It had made her uncomfortable, but she assumed that, in his grief, he had not realized what he was doing.� After all, he was a respected member of the holy Sanhedrin.�

�� Priest Mordecai's spells of depression continued after that about once a week just before the end of his class, and she would go to him and comfort him.� His hands continued to wander, but she continued to want to believe the best about him and to disregard it as done in grief.� She became used to it.�

�� Then it happened.� In her naivety she walked into the wolf's lair.� She had trusted him.� This time he had seemed more grieved than usual.� This time she had been unable to comfort him.� Finally he had begged her, "Please lie with me for a few moments.� It will help.� You want to help me don't you?� I need you, Noe.� Please help me."

�� So she did.�

�� Never in a thousand years had she suspected that he would go farther than that.�

�� But he did.

�� Afterwards he had been sorry and cried.� So she had forgiven him.� Noe was sure it would never happen again.� After all, he was a priest and a respected member of the holy Sanhedrin and was such a pure man.� She read David's psalm written after he committed adultery, and begged God to forgive her. [1]

�� The following week she had returned to the Temple to keep normalcy in her life.� He had asked to see her after class.� He had explained that what happened between them was not really wrong, because nothing so beautiful could be wrong.

�� Noe had been so young.� So very young.� She had wanted to believe the best regardless of the facts.

�� But after about six months, her thinking had cleared and she had decided it must stop.� So she dodged Priest Mordecai every time she saw him approach.

�� But things did not improve.

�� Noe, hungry for the word of God, had decided to attend someone else's discipling class around the Temple courtyard.� Scribe Haman was a respected scribe.� He had not been in the Sanhedrin as long as Mordecai, but he had a promising future with the Temple.�

�� One day Scribe Haman asked to see her and discuss her philosophy of a particular scripture.� Theirs had been a strictly intellectual relationship.� Noe had been pleased.� Then, after several weeks, he had asked her to look at some old scrolls to give him some new insight into them.� She was, of course, flattered.� She went with him.� He showed her the scroll.� They were alone.� He told her how much he admired her.

�� Then it happened again.

�� What was happening to her?� She was supposed to be a good person.� They were supposed to be good men.

�� There was now no turning back.� She had been defiled by two men.� What difference would it make now?� They had said they would protect her.� They had said they would give her beautiful gifts to make up for it.� They had said a lot of things that were not true.� All of the men.

�� Eventually, to cover up her deep, deep pain, Noe becomes bitter.

October AD 29

�� The stage is set.� The holy people are in the Temple.� The unholy people are on the street.� The choir and orchestra are rehearsing.� And the audience is out on the highways busily arriving for the great farce.

�� Plot and counter plot.� Accuse and counter accuse.� Blame and counter blame.� Worse than me.� Holier than thee.� The extremely guilty, lesser guilty, and never guilty.� Use, abuse, throw away.�

�� Innocence that has not been.� Forgiveness that cannot be.� And the mirror.� That awful, awful mirror.

�� "Happy Harvest!� Sholom!" is heard everywhere.

�� "Have you seen Jesus, yet?� They say he's going to take over this time."

�� "No I haven't.� But Happy Harvest and Sholom anyway."

�� The Sanhedrin rejoices.� Secretly Noe does.� Secretly she has never been able to shake her desire to be close to God.� But only secretly.

�� The hostels are starting to be filled up.� People's homes are now opened to the annual pilgrims.

Capernaum, Galilee

�� Meanwhile Jesus' brothers taunt him and tell him he should quit hiding and go on to Jerusalem for the celebration so he can be that big king he claims to be.� Jesus tells his brothers he has to do things his way and doesn't think he'll go. [2]

�� Jesus watches his mother and brothers leave with some neighbors for Jerusalem.� He kisses Mary goodbye.� She does not realize he will never be back in her home again.� There are a lot of things she does not realize.� Nor his brothers. [3]

�� He waits in the quiet, half-deserted town.� He talks to his twelve apostles.� The talk is confusion.� To all but him.�

�� You are stones, but I'm the rock. [4]�� I will make all of you the foundation some day.� Of the new heavenly kingdom of God. [5]

�� I am water. [6]

�� I am light. [7]

�� I will die.� But then I will live. [8]

�� As they talk, the ceremonies begin down in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, Judea

�� First comes the holy Day of Salvation.� The day set aside for everyone's sins to be forgiven for the past year.� Just routine.� Hardly anyone ever admits their sins.� People may explain them away, excuse them away, or exempt them away.� But outright admit them?� Well, you would be looked down on by other people if you admitted what you were really like. [9]

�� The Day of Salvation is welcomed anyway.� Although it begins in great solemnity, it will end in celebration.� Everyone likes the celebration part. [10]

�� What a great and glorious day it is for the choir and orchestra assembled from all over the nation.� What harmonious anthems!� And for the Levites who get to deck the halls of the great Temple to the hilt.� What splendor!� Of course, all is to the glory of God.� Everyone knows that. [11]

�� Some people call it the Day of Peace.� It is on this day everyone is to make their peace with God.� This makes a lot of people nervous.� Confessing sins is hard to do.� Do we have to, God?

�� On this autumn day, the High Priest is in charge.� It is his day.� The day that he alone represents all the people.� What a grand and glorious opportunity it is for him.�

�� High Priest Caiaphas dons his august robe of blue, purple and scarlet, intertwined with gold.� What a exquisite robe with its matching turban.� So grand.� And he wears a shield that dazzles with its twelve giant gem stones.� God loves his kingdom so much. [12]

�� The pomp and ceremony at the Temple begins.� First the trumpets sound forth the signal to begin.� Then the grand choir of five hundred Levites sings forth, accompanied by a thousand other Levites playing the always-designated instruments ~ the harp, the cymbal, and the lyre.� Hallelujah!� Hallelujah!� Hallelujah!

�� Then the trumpets again, the signal for the High Priest Caiaphas to walk out and stand atop of the grand steps of the Temple in all his grandeur.� He is more than twice as high as anyone in the congregation.� As he looks down on everyone, he looks so holy. [13]

�� Two goats are brought to him.� They are white and pure with not a defect anywhere.� Not many things in life are pure. [14] Which one will represent the peoples' sins?� Which one will be set free?� Caiaphas reaches inside his bejeweled breastpiece for two gold pieces, the Urim and Thummim. [15]

�� With his hand on one goat, he pulls out one of the gold pieces.� On it is carved yes.� Later it will be set free, but not yet.

�� Caiaphas leads the unchosen goat up the steps of the grand altar.�

�� "This is what I sacrifice for the sins of my people, for our nation, the kingdom of God!"

�� The word amen rises out of the mouths of the people as of a roaring water, and spreads by waves through the throngs until it reaches the back wall.

�� Then the choir again.� What a grand choir.� And the orchestra.� Music of heaven, surely.

�� He lifts the goat up onto the grate, kills it, cleans it, and sets it aside to be cooked later.� This goat has just died in the place of the people.� It has just shed its blood in the place of the people. [16]

�� But the blood?� What to do with all the blood?� Blood red.� Just like part of Caiaphas' robe.� Just like part of Noe's bleeding heart.

�� He takes some of the blood in a small container.� Then he walks back down from the altar and enters the Temple, the building which only priests are ever allowed into, the Holy Place.� The forbidden Temple.� The place where people are afraid to go.� It is too close to God.� He walks the sixty feet from the entrance to the far end alone with the blood. [17]

�� Now the people wait.� Most in silence.� Some not.�

�� Then he does it.� Only one man in the world is allowed to do this.� And it can only be done for a few moments once a year.� The time is now. [18]

�� Caiaphas draws back the curtain and enters the Most Holy Place with the blood.� The Holy of Holies.� The golden room.� Walls, ceiling, floor - all golden.� The sacred place where the gilded Chest of the Covenant sits in splendor.� Within this chest are the actual twenty-centuries-old stone tablets with the Ten Commandments etched by the finger of God. [19]

�� Caiaphas can see the grand atonement cover of the chest, for on it are two pure gold angels facing each other with wings overhead and touching.� Caiaphas is awed. �For it is this very spot that the God of the Universe touches earth.� This is the mercy seat. [20]

�� The thousands of people outside in the courtyard wait in quietness.� They know.� They cannot see what is happening.� But they know.� And they are awed.

�� Noe waits too.� But restlessly.� She looks around at the people attending to the ceremonies.� They all look so holy.� She wonders if they really are.� She used to look holy.� She does not think she does any more.�

�� Sometimes the restless crowd, expected to stand for sometimes hours at a time, mills around a little.� Occasionally one of the Sanhedrin walks near her.� She smiles and waves.� They turn and walk around her.� She should not be embarrassing them in public like that.�

�� Caiaphas sets the censor down, then concentrates on the blood.� He dips his finger in it and lets the blood fall in front of the mercy seat.� The life blood.� The blood of the pure white spotless goat.� The goat that has given its life as a substitute for the people's lives.� Let it drip, drip, drip before the mercy seat of God.� For the wages of sin is death.� The price must always be paid. [21]

�� That is it.� He leaves the Holy of Holies for good.� Not to re-enter it for another full year.� Until the Day of Salvation returns next the autumn.� Then it must be done again.� For the sins are only temporarily forgiven until a permanent arrangement can be made. [22]

�� Jesus knows about that.� He is the permanent arrangement.� Even now he heads south, determined to have the courage to do what the goat did.� Do it himself.

�� Noe does not consider herself perfect and sinless.� Or the men who go to her.� That can never be.� She has forever given up any idea that she can ever be pure.� It is impossible.� Not her sin.� It is too great even for God.

�� But it is not.� God can do the impossible.� You will be shown, Noe.� Hang on for another two weeks.� Jesus will be arriving.

�� Caiaphas now goes back out of the Most Holy Place, down the long corridor of the Holy Place and back out to the priestly courtyard.� He stops at the top of the grand staircase high above people's heads.� The other goat ~ the scapegoat ~ is still there.� He stands before the goat, places his hands on its head.� "Oh Lord God of heaven and earth!" he calls out.� "We are a wicked and rebellious people!� We have sins among us!"� His voice echoes.� "Many sins!"

�� Especially Noe.� She is responsible for a large portion of them.� If it weren't for Noe....

�� "Oh God!� Behold!� I place the sins of the people onto this goat!� Not because this is possible, but because you accept it as our substitute!� Oh, God!� Hear us!� We repent!"

�� A chief priest takes the goat and walks it down the steps and across the long courtyard where thousands of people stand aside to let them through.� He will take it to the gate of the city and set it free.� But it will not really be free.� For it will be doomed to wander the desert alone. [23]

�� Sin and aloneness.� Sin and aloneness.� Noe knows the feeling well.� Though seldom alone, she always feels as though she is.

�� The deed is done.� The sins of the people are gone for another year.� The people have waited silently for the word.� Then they hear it.� The announcement:� "Our sins are gone for another year.� We are once again at peace with God.� Praise God!"

�� And the choir sings one last song.

�� The people are relieved.� Some laugh.� Some cry.� Some just wander off.� But all are glad.� It has been tedious standing in the courtyard for the last two hours for the ceremonies.

�� "Has anyone seen Jesus yet?"

�� "No, I've haven't.� How about you, Noah?"

�� "Not me.� You'd think he'd be here.� We're all ready for the takeover."

�� "Are you crazy?" [24]

�� Everyone now divides up into groups to talk, or head back home to take care of business.� Noe too.� She now has a room provided her by her lovers.

�� "Oh, God!&"the men cry within their souls when they leave her arms.� "Forgive me!� I can't help it!� Forgive me, God!" they pray.� "Make her quit doing this!� I can't turn her down!"

�� Quietly they sneak in.� Quietly they sneak out.� But, of course, it is her fault.

�� Now to go home and prepare for the other holy holiday, the Feast of Booths.� The fun one.� The one with all the celebrations.� That is more like it.� What an exciting time.�

�� A time to remember how the ancestors escaped slavery in Egypt after four centuries.� A time to remember their pioneering spirit as they lived in booths out in the desert until they could make tents.� A time when everyone gets to make a shelters of branches and live in it for a week out in their yard, or the city square, or the Temple courtyard, or out in the country nearby. [25]

�� Everyone excitedly cuts branches off the trees, waving the palm branches as they walk, or drag the heavy ones through town.� Carefully they place the branches just so to create a shelter large enough for their family and strong enough to withstand an autumn rain.

�� "Do you think Jesus will show this time?"

�� "I don't know.� He's a trouble maker anyway."

�� "Well, I believe in the man.� He'll make a better king than who we have.� I think God really sent him."

�� "Believe what you want."

�� Finally the opening ceremony at the Temple.� Palm branches are waved.� It is a time of commemoration and remembering.� Their ancestors traveled a long way to get the Palestine.� Those were hard days.� Some weeping.� Some remembering.� Some singing patriotic songs. [26]

�� The choir comes back out.� The orchestra too.� How glorious their music as it reverberates from wall to wall.� Finally, "Let the festivities begin!"

�� It is toward evening and everyone returns home to enter their shelter.� Sleeping mats all ready in place.� Food in readiness.�

�� Morning.� At dawn everyone is up and getting dressed in their holiday clothing again.� Without breakfast, they return to the Temple, taking palm branches along to wave.

�� Aaron, an especially important chief priest goes to the Pool of Siloam just outside the Temple and draws some water.

� �� Now the trumpets.� Listen to the trumpets.� The holy trumpets as they announce bringing in the water.� The water of life.�

�� As the trumpets blare, people stand at attention and Aaron ascends the steps to the upper courtyard high above people's heads.� Still with the water, he proceeds to the great altar and ascends those steps.� He holds high his hand and slowly pours the water out onto the altar.�

�� What a grand ceremony.� A dramatization of the way Moses must have miraculously poured water out of the rock when the escaped slaves wandered the desert. [27] �Every morning the same ceremony.� How exciting.� The water ceremony.�

�� The rest of the day people mingle on the Temple grounds or around town.� Yes, it is a busy time for Noe.

�� "Anyone seen Jesus yet?"

�� "Why do you want to see him?� He is a hoax just like all the others who declared themselves king."

�� "No, he is a good man." [28]

�� Jesus will be arriving soon.� He was on the highway a couple days ago.� He is secretly making his way south. [29]

�� Night time.� Now for the light ceremony.�

�� Everyone returns to the Temple.� It is all lit up.� Tall temporary lampstands everywhere.� Lights and singing and celebrating.� The Temple courtyard must indeed be the light of the world.

�� But what about Jesus?� He has claimed to be the light of the world.� Where is he anyway?

�� Noe does not care for the lights.� Lights reveal too much.� She prefers the hiddeness of dark.

�� "Where is Jesus?� You would think he'd be here trying to take over."

�� "He hasn't been seen around Jerusalem for a year and a half."

�� "Do you blame him?� Self-imposed exile is what it is."

�� "I've heard he has been hiding in Phoenicia and Syria where their government doesn't care one way or the other about him."

�� "I don't trust him.� He's formulating his take-over plans.� Watch out for him.� He's dangerous."

�� "He doesn't dare show his face around here."

�� Indeed, Jesus has missed the Day of Salvation the day of making peace with God.� And so far he has missed the Feast of Booths.� But it is not yet over.

�� Now is the time.� He is on his way to Jerusalem after all.� Temple will be full.� People from everywhere.� His time draws near. [30]

�� The roads are easy to travel.� The heavy traffic is now in Jerusalem.� But still the highway is dangerous.� He must hide his face.� He must stay off the main road as much as possible.� It is still a dangerous trip.�

�� "He's not coming.� He's given up.� Forget Jesus."

�� "Well, maybe he'll come to the next feast and take over then."

�� "Jesus isn't going to take over anything.� He is a nobody." [31]

�� The religious leaders don't care who he is.� They are strong and he is weak.� The Sanhedrin does not care who he is.� They have power in their religion and he does not.�

�� Noe does not care who he is either.� At least she no longer admits she cares.� That part of her is hidden deep, deep, deep.

�� But Jesus has already sneaked into Jerusalem.� He has already been over to the hot springs and healed a man who has been unable to walk most of his life.�

�� Now he is at the Temple grounds in time to hear the daily reading of the Law of Moses.� By the end of the ten days, everyone will have read the entire thing with all its minute rules and regulations. [32]

�� Right now the scribe Japheth is reading out of Deuteronomy the great Ten Commandments, the ones that summarize the other 600 or so commandments.

�� "You shall have no other gods before me!

�� "....You shall not make yourself an idol!

�� "....You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God!

�� "....You shall observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy!" [33]

�� A strange voice.

�� "Not one of you keeps the Law of Moses!� None of you!" [34]

�� The voice is loud.� The voice is booming.� The voice carries like shock saves over the holy congregation.

�� "I heal on the Sabbath and you condemn me!" Jesus shouts.

�� How dare he interrupt their holy service.

�� "You circumcise on the Sabbath.� What's the difference?" [35]

�� Suddenly he is there.� Unexpectedly.� Like a thief in the night.� No one knew the day or the hour.� It is supposed to be that way.� He has planned it that way. [36]

�� "Isn't that the man the Sanhedrin is trying to assassinate?"

�� "I think you're right."

�� No one makes a move in Jesus' direction.

�� "Well, what he says makes sense.� How does he do that?� He wasn't educated by the theologians." [37]

�� The crowd around him grows.� In numbers.� In amazement.� And still no one tries to stop him.

�� Has the Temple hierarchy change their minds about him?� Do they believe he is from God after all?� That it's okay for him to be our next high priest and king?� They're not trying to arrest him.� What's going on?

�� The door is locked to the upper chambers.� The Sanhedrin has called an emergency session. [38]

�� "He's back.� He's not letting up.� He must be stopped.� He can't just walk in and take over."

�� "Have the Temple police arrest him and bring him here.� Now! Before it's too late."

�� The Sanhedrin adjourns until the time of the arrest.� The guards go out to find him.� It is not hard.� But they cannot find a good time to do it without inciting a riot.� There are either people around him, or he has sneaked out for the night.

�� Now and then Noe wanderings around the courtyard.� Remembering the days of her innocence.� Thinking about how enslaved her life has become to living her lie.

�� Today she is not feeling well.� She goes to Mordecai.

�� "Please, I need money for medicine."

�� "Not now, Noe.� Your timing is terrible.� Get out of here."

�� She spots Haman.� Perhaps he will help her.

�� "Noe, I appreciate your problem, but we're going to have to talk another time."

�� Haman notices High Priest Caiaphas walking his way and quickly turns away from Noe.

�� She goes to others.� The pain in her abdomen is sometimes severe.� How can they put her off like this?� How she hurts.� But they have more important things to tend to.

�� Their time is getting short.� This is the last day of the celebration.� It is now or never.� Once again the Temple guards stand by, watching for a break in the crowd or a change in their attitude, or something he might say to condemn himself in front of everyone.

�� It is morning.� Once more the priest is entering with the water from the pool.� Once more the trumpets are blaring.� Once more the crowd watches and remembers their ancestors and Moses and the rock of water.� Once more the priest climbs the grand staircase to the upper level, then the steps to the top of the altar.� Once more he holds the water high, then pours it onto the altar.

�� "I am the water of life!"

�� Huh?� Another loud interruption.�

�� "If you're thirsty, come to me!"

�� It is Jesus.� Shouting again.

�� "I can give you streams of water to make you live forever!" [39]

�� The crowd remains silent.� They are awe stricken by this man.� Some whisper to a friend.

�� "This man is the Prophet Moses told about." [40]

�� "No, he is the Deliverer, the Savior!" [41]

�� The Sanhedrin has readjourned.� The captain of the Temple police has been summoned.

�� "Why has this Jesus not been arrested?" Mordecai demands.

�� "The man is amazing.� He's building hope in everyone."

�� "So he has deceived you, too," Haman announces sarcasticly. [42]

�� It is now morning.� The Day of Salvation has come and gone.� The Feast of Booths has come and gone.� And so has Jesus.� Another chance to stop him botched.

�� But wait!� There is Jesus!� He is back!� Back to talk further to those who desire to linger in town an extra day. [43]

�� Don't botch this one.� Lay a trap.� Any kind of trap.

�� And there is Noe.� She is headed in Mordecai's direction.� He retreats.

�� "Haman, you and I have got to talk.� Barak too.� Get him in here."

�� "Something has to be done about Noe.� She is becoming an embarrassment."�

�� "Caiaphas saw her talking to me today.� I think he is suspicious."

�� "We've got to get rid of her."

�� "I know just the way."

�� The men plan their strategy.� They send the Temple police out again.� But this time it is to arrest Noe for adultery.� She is duly taken before the Sanhedrin.�

�� "Sir Caiaphas," Mordecai says after the proceedings begin.� He feels remorse, but not enough to stop the process now.� "May I suggested a representative judge the matter?"

�� "Jesus has shown up at the Temple this morning.� He wants to be judge so bad.� Let's let him do it."

�� "You mean...." They are still using Noe.

�� "Yes.� He keeps teaching peace.� But the Law of Moses demands that she be stoned to death.� Let's see how he handles this one.� He will hang himself."

�� They think.� Will it work?�

�� "Let's do it."

�� The group follows their prisoner and her Temple police escorts down the stairs.� Hurriedly.� Purposefully.� Noe must be dragged.

�� "No!" she shouts.� "No!"

�� They have a mission.� A sacred mission.� Get it over with. [44]

�� Jesus sees them coming.� He stands.� He is ready for them.� Always ready.� Why does he have to be so ready all the time?

�� "Jesus, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery."

�� "Our sacred law says she must be executed.� Do you abide by the law?� You're acting so much like a teacher of the law, tell us what you would do." [45]

�� The trap has been set.� Take it Jesus!� Take it!� Let it destroy you!

�� Jesus sizes up the situation.� It does not warrant the dignity of a reply.� He ignores them, stoops down, and writes in the dirt. [46]

�� "Jesus!� Tell us what to do if you're so smart."

�� Still he pays no attention.

�� "We demand an answer!"

�� He does not even have the decency to look at those who are talking to him.

�� "Answer us!� What is your decision?"

�� Still nothing.

�� "Are you deaf?"

�� But they know he hears.

�� "You are nothing but a fake and fraud."

�� Even name calling does not work.

�� "You charlatan!� You imposter!"

�� Finally, Jesus looks up at Mordecai.

�� "That's better.� Now, your verdict."

�� He looks over at Haman.� Then at Barak.� Then at Ezdras.

�� He stands.� "The law says everyone participating in this sin is to be executed.� If you've never been guilty, you throw the first stone at her." [47]

�� How does he know?� Does he have spies too?� Spies like they do?� What's he talking about?� It's Noe that's on trial.� Not them.

�� But that is not the law.� Everyone involved in her sin is guilty.� Where are the rest?� Who did they catch her with? [48]

�� Jesus looks at each one of them.� Piercingly.� Penetratingly.� Knowingly.� No one says a word.

�� Again he kneels back down and again writes in the dirt.� Again he ignores them.�

�� After all, they have been ignoring him.� He was never good enough for them.� He could never be given responsibility in the religious hierarchy, or in the government.��

�� Noe looks over at the man she has been ignoring for so long.� Sure she heard about him. �And a long time ago she would have been one of his followers.� But now he is nothing to her.� It is too late for her.

�� The men look at Noe.� Maybe she is not worth it.� Worth the exposure.� She cannot be condemned without witnesses and accusers.� Jesus waits.� Waits with the sinners.� But he does not look at them.� He just waits.

�� One by one, the men begin to sneak out of the courtyard.� Keep your head down.� Sneak away.

�� Jesus hears footsteps.� But still he does not look up.� They are not worth looking at.� Those high and mighty judges. [49]

�� After it has been quiet a little while, he does look up.� In the direction of Noe.� She is staring at him.� Suddenly he is important to her.� Suddenly he is not worth ignoring.

�� Noe, why don't you sneak away too?� No one is here to hold you.� Just sneak away.� But there is something about this man who won't look at you.� Who won't pay any attention to you.� Who ignores you.� He is different from the rest.� Stick around.� Try to size him up.

�� Jesus stands and looks at her.� " are your accusers?" he asks gently.

�� "They're all gone," she whispers.��

�� He waits.� Waits for the tears of sorrow.� The tears of repentance.� The tears of turning.� They do not come.� It is too late for her.� She cannot bring herself to do it.� She has hardened herself too much.

�� "I am not going to condemn you either," Jesus says anyway.� "Just don't do those things any more.� Clean up your life." [50]

�� Noe looks at Jesus with uncertainty.� He never saw her before.� He's not a witness to anything she has ever done.� He has no power to condemn her.� Why is he saying this?� What kind of power does he have?

�� But she does not stay long enough to find out.� She does not ask any questions.� She does not inquire.� She decides to follow suit and return to the before.� The before when she ignored Jesus.� She felt better when she ignored him.�

�� Noe turns and sneaks out too.

LIFE APPLICATION

1.�� Think of something you naively got involved in that you later regretted.� If you were never able to set things right, do so the best you can this week.

2.�� There are hypocrites everywhere.� Even one of Jesus' twelve apostles was a hypocrite.� Jesus, however, did not decide not to die on the cross for us because of hypocrites.� He did not forsake mankind because of hypocrites.� Do you refuse to go to church or some other such function because of hypocrites?� By looking at Jesus instead, how will that help you in this matter?

3.�� Have you ever done something so bad you thought Jesus could never forgive you?� Jesus can.� Pray to him about it right now. He loves you so.

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