The evening presented a good opportunity.  It was already dark; a torch fixed to the pillar on the shore diffused a dull red light over the surging crowd.  Jesus wished to pass on quickly, but He could not.  A woman fleeing from her pursuers cast herself at His feet.  She was young, her hair streamed loose, her limbs were trembling with fear; she knelt down and put her arms round His legs.  He bent down to her and tried to raise her, but she held fast to His feet and could not compose herself.  Then the people began to shout:  “The traitress, the Bethany serpent, what has she to do with Him?”

Jesus put His hand on her head.  He stood up straight and asked aloud:  “Who is this woman that you have a right to insult her?”

“Who is she?  Ask the son of Job.  She’s an adulteress.  Married but a few weeks ago to the brave old son of Job, her parents’ friend, she deceives him with a young coxcomb, the hussy!”

The abuse they hurled against the helpless creature cannot be repeated.  It was the women, too, who shouted the loudest; especially one, the wife of a man who made fishing-nets, was so filled with moral indignation that she tore her dress and scattered the rags over the sinner.  Words of the most venomous abuse poured from this accuser’s mouth in bitter complaint that such a creature should shame the sacred name of woman; she passionately declared her desire that the evil-doer should be stoned.  Soon the crowd followed with “Stone her!” and a young porter who stood near the wife of the fishing-net maker stooped to pick up a stone from the road, and prepared to cast it at the sinner.  Jesus protected her with His hand, and exclaimed; “Do not touch her.  Which of you is without sin?  Let him come and cast the first stone.”

Unwillingly they let their arms fall, and those who already held stones in their hands dropped them quietly on to the ground.  But Jesus turned to the persecuted woman and said:  “They shall not harm you.  Tell me what has happened.”

“Lord!” she whimpered, and clasped His feet afresh, “I have sinned!  I have sinned!” and she sobbed and wept so that His feet were damp with her tears.

“You have sinned!” He said in a voice, the gentle sound of which went to many a heart—­“sinned.  And now you are sorry.  And you do not try to vindicate yourself.  Get up, get up!  Your sins will be forgiven.”

“How?  What?” grumbled the people.  “What’s this we hear?  He speaks kindly to the adulteress.  He pardons her sin.  This prophet will indeed find followers.”

When Jesus heard their grumbling He said aloud:  “I tell you I am like a shepherd.  He goes out to search for a lost lamb.  He does not fling it to the wolves, but takes it home to the fold that it may be saved.  I do not rejoice over the proud, but over the repentant.  The former sink down; the latter rise up.  Listen to what I tell you.  A certain man had two sons.  One was of good