harwood@cvl.UUCP (11/09/86)
Someone asked, so here is my explanation of Jesus' stooping to write with his finger on the ground - in the story of the adulteress. There is a similar figure in Exodus where God is said to have descended (twice) on Sinai and written "with His finger" the commandments on the two stone (=eternal) tablets. Recall adultery was a capital offense, according to Levitical Law, which was often merciless justice. Many times Jesus is portrayed in the Gospels as revising the old with a New Law which is more idealistic, but more merciful than before. Therefore, in this story, Jesus stoops - to write upon the earth (even twice as at Sinai) his more merciful Law (where before the adulteress was condemned). In the story, Jesus appeals once again to the Jewish traditional principle, found with Hillel and developed by the rabbis, of moral symmetry. That is, do (not) unto others as you would have others (not)do unto you; forgive others so God will forgive you; judge not lest you be judged; you shall be judged by the same measure as you judge...); he reminds the accusers that they also have sinned but have not been condemned. He tells her not to sin (therefore implicitly judges her to have sinned). Nevertheless, he does not condemn her (to death), but is merciful, as is God. Jesus proclaims the moral Law of Mercy: achieving mitigation and forgiveness of sin by showing justice which is merciful, by overcoming evil with good, and not by retaliation but by steadfast kindness. As he said again and again, "I want mercy, and not sacrifice..." With Isaiah, if we are not merciful, then our so-called "sacrifices" are an abomination to God. Or as Paul said, whatever else we may think of ourselves, if we are without love, the everlasting sacrifice, then we are nothing at all. That is my explanation. Everyone knows that there were TWO stone Testaments made, and there are Jewish traditional speculations about this. Also it is said in Exodus, that the tablets were written "on both sides", inviting more speculation - that Torah has literal meaning, but also has concealed meaning. (cf Rev where the Scroll is written on both sides.) Another point about the giving of Torah is that Moses' going up Mt. Sinai may be considered an ascent by Moses "to heaven" - that is, to God's Presence. The first time he descended, he found the people were unfaithful, building the Golden Idol; and God turned against them so that they killed each other. The first set of Tablets were broken. So Moses re-ascended Mt. Sinai where God pronounced His Name of Glory (His self-revelation), disclosing His attributes, and gave Moses a second copy of the broken Law. Then Moses descended again - with His face (appearance) radiant (horned means having rays) with God's glory and the people listened. So the "second coming" - of Moses down from Mt Sinai was in Glory. Perhaps this is a prefiguring of the "parousia" of Christ in Gospel. David Harwood