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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: No Condemnation in Christ (07/16/26)
WOMAN IN MODERN DRESS ADDRESSES AUDIENCE

I am such an idiot at times. Doing things that I know better not to do. Not doing the things God has called me to do. And now I’ve let down my best friend. Turned my back on her when she needed me most. All because I was afraid of the crowd.

I’ve asked her forgiveness.
She’s given it.

But I still feel so condemned.
I hate myself.

And I think of two other people who felt condemned, but were set free from that condemnation.

I wonder what it would have been like to be the woman caught in adultery.

PUTS HEADDRESS ON

Condemned. Condemned. Condemned. Those words were a drumbeat in my head as the Pharisees dragged me to the Temple.

How could I be such a fool? I knew adultery was a sin. But I loved Jacob, and he loved me. Or so I thought. When the Pharisees grabbed me, they thanked Jacob, and he left. They THANKED him. It was all a trap. And I fell right into it.

They drag me into the Temple and shove me down in front of Jesus. “She was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says she must be stoned. What say you?”

And I realize the trap wasn’t for me. It was for Jesus.

Because of my stupid behavior, this kind, loving rabbi is caught in a trap. The law? Or love?

I’m huddled on the floor, my face buried in my headdress so I can’t see anything, but I can hear.

“Whoever of you has never sinned, throw the first stone.”

That must be Jesus talking!

Silence, no stones

And then I hear footsteps, then more footsteps.

A hand reaches out to me, and Jesus looks me in the face with eyes of liquid love.

“Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” I mumble.

They say Jesus is the Messiah, the sinless one. He told the Pharisees, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Would Jesus be stoning me?

I already knew the answer to that question. At least I hoped I did.

I hold my breath and wait.

“Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

And I was free.
Free from guilt.
Free from condemnation.

WOMAN REMOVES HEADDRESS.

Jesus didn’t condemn that woman. He loved her. He forgave her. And I think of a man who denied his Lord. How he must have condemned himself. I bet his wife heard the entire story, witnessed his anguish. I wonder what it would have been like to be the wife of the apostle Peter.


WOMAN PUTS ON HEADDRESS

How do you comfort a husband who has done the unspeakable?
How do you comfort a husband who has performed an act you never would have expected?

My Peter.
Rash.
Impetuous.
Passionate

All of those words described my Peter. But a word I never would have called him was coward.

When Peter told me what he had done, I couldn’t believe it. My Peter denied he knew Jesus? Not just once but three times. REPEATS SLOWLY THREE times.

I tried to comfort him, but he pushed me away.

“Condemned. Condemned Condemned. Those words are a drumbeat in my head. I’m not fit for your company. I’m not fit for anyone’s company.” And he left.

I had no idea where he went.

My arms ached to hold my husband. My heart ached in time with his aching heart.

Three days drag by.

And then…

The most wondrous, unbelievable thing of all. Jesus rose from the dead?

Ah, but the second most wondrous, unbelievable thing of all. Jesus forgave my Peter. And he told him to “Feed my sheep.”

And I know one of the things Peter will be feeding the sheep: knowledge of the One who never condemns.

What a feast of forgiveness!



WOMAN REMOVES HEADDRESS

What a feast of forgiveness. But to enjoy a feast, you must be willing to partake.


I see three
Who are now free
From condemnation

The woman caught in adultery
What a disaster
Peter, who denied his precious Master

Jesus has declared them to be
Now free
From condemnation

And all the things I should have done
And the hurt I gave my special someone

Jesus has declared me to be
Now free
From condemnation

Who are the three
Who are now free
from condemnation?

Peter
That woman
And me
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This article has been read 53 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
07/27/26
This is quite brilliant. You do an excellent job of getting into each characters' heads. I really enjoyed it. I noticed in the adultery story the tense flipped-flopped a tiny bit from past to present. You did an excellent job of writing on topic and delivered a powerful message that touched my heart.
Steve Rosas 
07/30/26
I loved the way you wove between Bible passages and your life. It helped the passages impact my life.

If this is a script, the headdress references make sense. If it is a written work, there would probably be a better way to indicate the transitions.

Great job-I really liked it.