Now consider the moment when Jesus writes in the sand in John 8. The Pharisees have come to him in the temple courts with a woman accused of adultery. They ask what they should do with her, given that Mosaic law demanded her death. This is a trap. If he says “stone her,” then he’s breaking Roman law. If he says “don’t stone her,” then he’s setting himself above Jewish law – either way, he’s in trouble. Instead of answering, Jesus bends down and writes in the sand. When they persist – in outrage, one can safely assume, because think how irritating that would be – he says his famous line, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” Then he bends down and writes in the sand again.

What does he write?