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JOHN VIII—THE SINFUL WOMAN

him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the

midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

I

15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men

is true.

18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answereth, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. 21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that

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Jesus Rescues the Sinful Woman

AFTER THE PAINTING BY JOSÉ ECHENA.

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"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."-John, 8, 7.

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HRIST'S teachings were always of mercy and of

charitable dealings to others. Often His counsels

were opposed to the strict and severe teachings of the Roman law; and by means of this antagonism it seemed easy for the Pharisees to entangle Him with the Roman government. But His quiet wisdom avoided all their subtleties. Upon the second day of His visit to Jerusalem, as He was again preaching in the Temple, the scribes dragged before Him a poor woman who had been seized in an act of sin for which the law prescribed death by stoning. Knowing the tender heart of Jesus they asked if they should stone her. To say, yes, was to contradict His own teachings; to say, no, was to incite disobedience to the law. For a time Christ seemed absorbed in meditation, tracing letters with His finger on the floor. Then as they pressed eagerly for an answer, He uttered those words of divine reproof which implied that only a man. who was himself without sin was justified in condemning the woman or inciting others to destroy her. Having thus answered, Jesus sank again into apparent thought. When He once more raised His head, He was alone with the sinner, each clamorous accuser having searched his own heart and slunk away.

"Hath no man condemned thee?" Jesus asked the woman. "She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more."

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