The Writing In The Sand- Mercy

John 8:5-9

"'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."

It is funny how this story has become "a line in the sand" over time. Reading this section more carefully as an adult, I noticed that Jesus was writing something, and since that time I have wondered what he may have been writing. Whatever it was would likely be short, as the tensions were rising in the crowd and it was a relatively quick exchange. Then again, he did keep writing after speaking, and there is not a specific timeframe listed for how long it took the crowd to disperse. While I am still open to the idea that he may have written something longer, something short is the most likely scenario, in my mind. Additionally, knowing Jesus, almost certainly would have written a verse from Scripture. 

So I continued to consider this from time to time when remembering the story, even imagining visiting the scene at some point when such modes of travel become available. Today what was written hit me all at once, though. Granted, I am not one to claim certainty without strong evidence or significant reason, but what I saw in my mind's eye was Jesus writing "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

This is the most quoted single verse by Jesus (Matthew 9:13, Matthew 12:7, I feel like I remember another, but will likely need to read through again to find it, based on how the internet displays results for this quote- even repeating the same quote once was very rare for Jesus, perhaps unique if I recall correctly, but I'll check again when I read through). It certainly fits as a verse that could be written in the timeframe that was most likely available as well, and the concept of desiring mercy fits perfectly with the scenario at hand. The way it came to me felt much more like I could picture it in my mind than using these logical points that I include here to deduce it, however. I feel like it was an interesting example of Matthew 7:7-8

“'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.'"