[Note: John 7:53-8:11 [the portion in the brackets] is not found in the earliest handwritten copies.] A note in The Message

The entire narrative is bracketed – Jesus, the religious leaders, and the woman caught in adultery. At some point, this story was added into the Gospel of John. Is the whole story just an embellishment added by an unknown writer? Did Jesus really write in the dirt? Is any of it real?

There’s no definitive proof. It could have been a legend added in to make a point. It could have been an encounter that was handed down orally, making it into the gospel in one of its later forms. But for almost two thousand years, it’s been a part of our Bible. Biblical scholars, John Calvin among them, saw no reason to remove or dispute its right to remain in John – the benefit of the doubt won out.

What matters to me is whether this story gives us a glimpse of God-With-Us. Does it reveal something of human nature, both the good and bad? Does it draw us more deeply into God’s love? Does it plant us more firmly in loving relationship with our neighbors?

If we answer these questions with a yes, then it’s gospel – good news. It’s a yes for me. How about you?