The Vine: June 30, 2025
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”
This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)
“ Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them.
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and, making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
This passage in the Bible about the woman caught in adultery is generally considered to be a later addition to the Gospel of John and is often found in different locations within the gospels in ancient manuscripts. Despite not being in the original text, the story aligns with Jesus’ character and teachings and most scholars consider the story to be authentic. And that is a good thing, because it beautifully captures Jesus’ mercy, forgiveness, and grace for us.
This scripture contains a powerful drama that captures our spiritual imagination and touches our souls deeply. This passage is a wonderful opportunity to practice a method of scripture meditation developed by Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556). Ignatius was a Spanish soldier-turned-priest and founder of the Jesuits. He discovered that when he used his senses, imagination, and emotions to read the Bible that it came alive for him in a fresh way and helped him grow closer to God. He invited his followers to not just read scripture, but to step inside it and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, prayerfully consider “Where am I in the story? How is Jesus speaking to me here?”
Ignatius offered five steps for scripture study and meditation—Prepare, Read, Imagine, Participate, and Respond:
1) Prepare—invite the Holy Spirit to quiet your heart and awaken your soul.
St Ignatius encouraged his followers to begin prayer by placing themselves in the Lord's presence and imagining God's loving gaze upon them.
2) Read—slowly read the passage and listen deeply for God’s voice. Then read the passage a second time even more slowly noting the key moments in the story.
- A woman publicly humiliated
- The Pharisees using her to trap Jesus
- Jesus bending down to write in the dirt
- “Let anyone without sin case the first stone”
- One by one the crowd disburses
- “Neither do I condemn you. Go and leave your life of sin.”
3) Imagine—Use all five senses to place yourself in the scene. Picture the scene as if it is happening in front of you.
- What do you see? What do people look like—the woman, the Pharisees, Jesus? What are they wearing? What expressions are on their faces?
- What do you hear? Is there shouting? Whispers? Silence? The sound of stones being picked up—or dropped?
- What do you smell or fear? Dust? Sweat? Heat from the sun? Fear in the air?
4) Participate—Become a character the story and notice what your feel and experience.
Let yourself be one of the characters—are you the woman, one of the Pharisees, a bystander, a family member? Don’t rush this. Let the story unfold in your imagination.
- Are you the woman—broken, ashamed, afraid? What is she feeling at the hands of her accusers? What is she experiencing with Jesus?
- Are you a Pharisee, ready to judge someone else while ignoring your own sin? What sins of others do you condemn quickly? What did it feel like for you to drop your stone and walk away?
- Are you a one of the disciples, watching Jesus respond to sin and shame in a radically different way? Are you nervous with all that is going on around you? What are you thinking in the moment? What do you learn about the heart of Jesus?
5) Respond—Have a personal conversation with Jesus about what you’ve seen and felt. What do you want to say to Him? What do you need to confess? What do you need to hear from our Merciful Savior?
The Ignatian method of scripture meditation helps us realize that this story is not just about a woman and her sin. It’s about all of us. Jesus does not ignore sin, but he also doesn’t weaponize it. He steps into our brokenness and shame with compassion, defends the vulnerable, and offers grace and forgiveness to all.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for meeting me in my place of brokenness. Teach me to receive your grace and mercy and help me to do the same to others. Give me a heart to lay down my stones of judgment and offer forgiveness and hope instead. Amen.
DISCUSS:
If you are reading this with others, discuss your insights and experiences. What did you learn? Where did you place yourself in the story? Was this method of scripture mediation helpful to you?
PREVIOUS WEEKS
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