Woman: The day I met Jesus... I remember that day so clearly. I married young, to a man my father chose for me. He was a good man, he did his best to provide for me... and I really do think he loved me. But I didn't love him. I resented him, the way he spoke, the way he acted, it seemed that everything he did was stifling to me. After a few years, I met this other man. He was charming, handsome. His wife had died young, so he was alone. He spoke sweetly, charmingly. We encountered each other everywhere, it seemed. I wanted to remain chaste, I really did, but... I couldn't control myself. One day, we went into his home. It all seemed so natural. I thought I loved him, and he said he loved me, and so I gave myself to him.

We were in bed when they came, Pharisees, a whole group. I don't know what tipped them off, but they burst into the room and dragged us out of the bed, taking care to avert their ever chaste eyes the entire time. They ordered me to put on clothes, and I did... then they grabbed me and pulled me outside and down the road. I don't know why they didn't take both of us, but as we walked, I heard the name Jesus. I knew who He was, and hearing his name made me go cold. A teacher, a prophet, a very righteous man. If they were bringing me to Him... I knew what lay next.

We went all the way to the temple, and as we approached I saw Him sitting outside. A large crowd was gathered, and I was so ashamed. To have my sin exposed before so many people... people who would no doubt participate in the punishment... questioning faces turned toward me, His included. They pushed me toward him, and everyone circled around, but the only thing I could feel was His searching gaze. Before they even spoke, He knew what I'd done, I was sure of it. I couldn't meet his eyes.

The head Pharisee spoke up, calling him "Teacher." He said "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the law, Moses commanded us to stone such woman." As he said it, my knees went weak. I was so terrified, I was shaking. There could only be one outcome. Denying it would do no good, there were so many witnesses. Within a few minutes, I was going to be dying. Already, the people in the group were picking up rocks from the ground, and I could practically feel them hitting me. "Now what do you say?" they asked Him.

I waited for His word, the only word I could imagine He would give. "Yes, you're right. Stone her." I waited for it to begin, tears of regret stinging my face. A few seconds passed, and He said nothing. I couldn't imagine why, but as I glanced over I saw him bent, writing on the ground with His finger. I couldn't tell what the words said, but the Pharisees grew louder as He wrote, demanding an answer. Then He stood, and I braced myself to hear the word. But all He said was "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Then He started writing again.

I was sure that meant death. I tried to cover my head, to protect myself from what I was sure was coming, but no one moved. No one said anything at all. Then I heard the thump of a stone hitting the ground, and I thought it was starting, but nothing struck me. Footsteps started leaving, then I heard the sound of more rocks being dropped, as their owners, one by one, walked away.

Eventually, no one was left, except Him. He stood up from His writing and walked over to me. I didn't know what was coming, but when He spoke, it was like his voice resonated in every part of my being. "Woman," He said, but without the scorn the Pharisees had. His voice was gentle. He said "Where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

I couldn't speak. He was waiting for an answer, but my throat was closed. I was so ashamed to stand before Him, to have been given mercy for something so wrong. Finally, I managed to say something. "No one, sir."

He gently raised my chin so that I looked into His compassion-filled eyes. "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now, and leave your life of sin."

He forgave me, just like that. I deserved absolutely nothing from Him, yet there He was, telling me I was free to go. As I looked at Him, I realized that He could have thrown that first stone. He, out of all those people, was the only one who had the right to condemn me. But He didn't. He set me free. That is how I met Jesus.