“Stones and Grace: Jesus Breaks the Chains of Condemnation”
Bible Passage: John 8:3-11
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”” (John 8:3–11, NIV)
Characters:
- Jesus
- Woman Caught in Adultery
- Accusers (Group of Pharisees)
- Narrator
Setting:
A simple, quiet space with minimal distractions. The scene is set in a small area representing a street or open space. The focus is on creating a safe and supportive environment.
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Narrator’s Script with Thought Tracking:
Narrator:
“Today, we enter into a powerful story where Jesus, the true hero, stands up for someone who is alone, scared, and in danger. This story is about a woman who finds herself surrounded by people who want to punish her for something she did wrong. But it’s also about how Jesus sees her—not just as someone who made a mistake, but as a person deserving of love and a second chance. Let’s hear how this unfolds, starting with the words from the Bible.”
[Narrator reads John 8:3-6 (NIV):]
‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.’
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First Freeze-Frame Moment: The Accusation
(Setting the Scene)
- Position: The Woman Caught in Adultery stands in the center, looking scared and alone. The Accusers stand around her, holding stones, their faces serious. Jesus is nearby, quietly drawing in the dirt.
Thought Tracking:
- Woman Caught in Adultery: (Steps forward) "I’m terrified. I know I’ve done wrong, but why am I the only one here? Where is the man? Why do they want to hurt me so badly? Is there any way out of this? Will anyone help me?"
(Steps back into position)
Narrator:
“Imagine this woman, standing alone in the middle of a crowd, terrified because she knows that the people around her want to hurt her. The law in those days was harsh—especially for women. If a woman was caught in adultery, she could be put to death. But where is the man? He isn’t here. The law is unfairly harsh on her, and the crowd is eager to punish. But instead of giving in to their demands, Jesus does something completely different. He kneels down and starts writing in the dirt, showing that he’s thinking carefully about what to do next.”
Audience Reflection:
1. For the Woman: “How do you think it feels to be standing there, surrounded by angry faces? What would you hope for in that moment?”
- Pause for gentle reflection.
2. For the Accusers: “Why do you think these people are so quick to judge her? Is it fair that only the woman is being blamed?”
- Pause for gentle reflection.
3. For the Audience: “Think about a time when you were blamed for something. How did it feel? Who do you think would have stood up for you if you were in trouble?”
- Pause for gentle reflection.
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[Narrator reads John 8:7 (NIV):]
‘When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”’
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Second Freeze-Frame Moment: Writing in the Dirt
(The Hero’s Wisdom)
- Position: Jesus is sitting on the ground, calmly drawing in the dirt. The Woman is watching him, trying to understand what he’s doing. The Accusers are still standing, but they’re starting to look unsure, their expressions softening.
Thought Tracking:
- Jesus: (Steps forward) "They want me to judge her, to condemn her to death. But what they don’t understand is that this isn’t about the law—it’s about love and mercy. I see their hearts, full of judgment, but I also see their own sins. They need to look within before they cast the first stone."
(Steps back into position)
- Accuser: (Steps forward) "I thought this would be easy. We caught her in the act—she’s guilty. But why is Jesus making us think about our own sins? I’ve made mistakes too... maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to judge."
(Steps back into position)
Narrator:
“Jesus stands up and speaks with wisdom that stops everyone in their tracks. He doesn’t shout or get angry. Instead, he says, ‘If any one of you has never done anything wrong, you can be the first to throw a stone at her.’ His words make everyone think about their own lives and their own mistakes. Jesus isn’t just protecting this woman—he’s helping the accusers see that they, too, are not perfect. Slowly, their anger starts to fade, and they begin to see things differently.”
Audience Reflection:
1. For the Woman: “How do you feel now, knowing that Jesus is speaking up for you? Do you feel a little safer?”
- Pause for gentle reflection.
2. For the Accusers: “When Jesus speaks, do you start to feel differently? Are you still angry, or do you begin to think about your own life?”
- Pause for gentle reflection.
3. For the Audience: “Have you ever judged someone without thinking about your own mistakes? How does it feel when you realize that you’ve made mistakes too? What would Jesus want you to do?”
- Pause for gentle reflection.
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[Narrator reads John 8:8-9 (NIV):]
‘Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.’
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Third Freeze-Frame Moment: The Stones Dropped
(The Hero’s Compassion)
- Position: One by one, the Accusers begin to drop their stones and slowly walk away, leaving the Woman alone with Jesus. The Woman’s posture changes from fear to relief. Jesus stands up and looks at her with kindness.
Thought Tracking:
- Woman Caught in Adultery: (Steps forward) "I can’t believe it. They’re leaving... I’m not going to die today. Jesus, you saved me. What will I do now? How do I start over?"
(Steps back into position)
- Jesus: (Steps forward) "She is not her mistakes. She is a child of God, deserving of love and mercy. I see her heart and the potential for a new beginning. This is what my Father’s kingdom is about—second chances, love, and grace."
(Steps back into position)
Narrator:
“One by one, the people holding the stones realize they have no right to judge her. They drop their stones on the ground and walk away. Now, it’s just the woman and Jesus—the hero who stood up for her when no one else would. Jesus looks at her, not with anger, but with love. He asks, ‘Where did everyone go? Didn’t anyone stay to punish you?’ She looks around and sees that no one is left. ‘No one stayed,’ she says quietly. Then Jesus, the true hero, says something amazing: ‘I don’t want to hurt you either. Go, and try to make better choices from now on.’ Jesus doesn’t just save her—he gives her a new beginning, a second chance at life.”
Audience Reflection:
1. For the Woman: “How does it feel to be safe now because of Jesus? What will you do with this second chance?”
- Pause for gentle reflection.
2. For Jesus: “Why do you think Jesus chose to protect her instead of punishing her? What does this tell us about what it means to be a true hero?”
- Pause for gentle reflection.
3. For the Audience: “Think about a time when someone stood up for you. How did it change things? How can you be like Jesus and stand up for someone who needs help?”
- Pause for gentle reflection.
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[Narrator reads John 8:10-11 (NIV):]
‘Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”’
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Devotional Reflection: Jesus, the Liberator of the Marginalized
Narrator:
“This story isn’t just about what happened to a woman long ago. It’s about what happens to all of us today. Jesus is the hero who stands up for those who
are pushed to the edges of society—those who are judged, shamed, and left out. He doesn’t see us as our mistakes. He sees us as beloved children of God, deserving of love, compassion, and a second chance.
In a world that often judges harshly, Jesus shows us a different way. He breaks the chains of condemnation and offers us grace. He lifts up those who are beaten down and gives them hope. His love is for everyone—especially those who feel like they don’t belong, like they’re not good enough, or like they’ve made too many mistakes.
Jesus’ actions in this story are a powerful reminder that his kingdom is one of liberation and inclusion. It’s a place where everyone is welcome, where no one is left behind, and where love overcomes all barriers. He shows us that we are all included in this love, no matter where we come from, what we’ve done, or how others see us.
As we go from here, let’s remember that Jesus, our hero, is always with us—standing up for us, loving us, and inviting us to be part of his compassionate and just kingdom. And just as he has shown us love, we are called to show that same love to others, especially those who need it most.”
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End of Drama
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