The run-up to Easter starts today!

Day 1 of Lent - Wednesday March 9 2011
Every day up to Easter Sunday I will post some interesting things to ponder including part of a bible book (the chapter and the verse so you can find it yourself). They are all written by local people from across Manchester who are followers of Jesus - different ages, gender, background, experience. Please post your responses, thoughts, feelings and prayers here too

You find in the Bible - the book called John chapter 8.verses 1-11 (there is an index in most bibles)

The woman accused of adultery
She waited, her head bowed not daring to raise it
She waited
Waited for judgement
Waited for the first stone
She had heard the words of the teacher
Strange words
‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her’
She knew she had it coming
She had taken a risk and had been caught
But what was taking so long
Why didn’t they just get on with it and put her out of her misery.
Slowly she realised that the noise of the mob had quietened
and she raised her head
Where were they?
Where had they gone?
And then she met the eyes of Jesus
Looking at her, a sinner
And he asked her, where are your accusers
She didn’t know, how could she know
And then he said she was forgiven
She was to go on her way and not sin again.
She couldn’t believe what he was saying.
she had sinned, she deserved judgement
she should be elated, she had got away with it.
But she felt the opposite - ashamed that this man, this gentle man, could look her in the eye and see her, really see her,
and she felt embarrassed at his gaze
And as she left she knew that she was changed forever.
Who was this man, what were those words:
‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her’


our very own Pauline Jones from St Mark’s United Reformed Church, Wythenshawe!