You know the story of the adulterous woman in the Bible, right? 

I always thought the Pharisees caught her in the act, then she got scared, ran off, they chased her and somehow, she ran by herself to Jesus for help. 

I read Apostle John’s account of the story again recently and realized those teachers of religious law brought her to Jesus while He was preaching to a crowd. They got there, and in front of everyone, mentioned her offence and asked for Jesus’ opinion. Imagine the shame! The public disgrace! 

Meanwhile, their aim wasn’t even about justice. If it was, they would have dragged her partner as well, no? It takes two to tango, right?  

They wanted to trap Jesus and use His response against Him. They disrupted His meeting. Imagine the audacity! The rudeness! The evil! Did they really need to expose and humiliate her just to bring Him down? Was that necessary? 

But you see Nna anyi Jesus. 

A man with a loving heart. 

He didn’t care to use that opportunity to display His theological knowledge or prove again that He was the Son of God. His priority was the woman. He chose to 

protect her, 

save her,

cover her shame, 

restore her dignity. 

He said to them, 

“oya na, if the hands bearing those stones are clean, throw the first one!”  

Ah! Na so all of dem begin waka o, one by one. Shame wear dem maxi dat day! Di trap wey dem set for Baba nko? Jump and pass! 

Then the climax! 

E look di woman ask am say “wia dem dey?” 

Aunty say, “Daddy wa, mi o mo.” 

Na so Baba, wit im church mind, look di woman, tell am say, 

“Oya de go. I no de kuku vex for you. But no do am again o, you hear?” 

Right there, before the same crowd that watched  the humiliation and disgrace, 

He covered what others wanted to expose.

He gave her back her dignity. 

He restored her.

He wished her well. 

That’s just the way He is. 

Kindhearted. 

Forgiving. 

People-centred. 

Baba o! The Merciful God! 

He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to come to repentance.  

There may be stones already hurled at you, but remember – there’s also a God who won’t let you be destroyed. 

He sees the stones. 

He knows the law. 

He knows the motive. 

But, 

He will protect you. 

He will cover you. 

He will forgive you. 

He will restore your dignity. 

All will be well.