This reflection by Mary Zahl originally appeared in Daily Grace: The Mockingbird Devotional, Vol. 2:
When [the crowd] kept on questioning [Jesus], 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.” (Jn 8:7-11)
It is common knowledge that a huge percentage of communication is non-verbal. Our “body language” often speaks louder than our words. We can learn volumes about a person if we “listen” to what they are saying through their posture or eye contact or how they walk.
One of the most important questions we can ask about a passage of scripture is, “What does this tell me about Jesus or God?” In this case, what can we learn about Jesus through his body language?
John is careful to paint a most instructive portrait of Jesus in this encounter: He straightens up to face the woman’s accusers, eye-to-eye, as it were. It must seem like he is gathering his power as he stands to face them. We sense the importance of Jesus’ words delivered from his full height: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Then, he bends down to allow his words to sink in, and for the accusers to depart. He is not interested in humiliating them with his stare. There is a gentleness, and even compassion, as he avoids watching their guilty escapes.
Finally, he straightens up once again to pronounce his words of compassion to the accused woman, eye-to-eye, with total conviction of body and voice: “Has no one condemned you? … Neither do I condemn you.” Imagine his saying these life-changing words from his stooped position. Would the impact have been the same? He knows the eyes are essential in communicating compassion, and posture in bestowing confidence.
Thank you, Lord, that you did not fear your accusers, and that you stood tall on behalf of this woman and on behalf of us.
you’ve shared an eye opening perspective about this encounter of Jesus and the woman at the well.