He writes in the dust

He writes in the dust

Joel Howard

[see the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery, John 8]

When Jesus bent down

And wrote in the dust

Was it because

He was remembering us?

For from dust we came

And to dust we'll go

Is this why he was

Pondering so?

Adulteress woman

Caught in the affair

Emboldened men

Accusing there

Raising stones

Ready to throw

But You knelt down

And now I know

You saw the woman

In context, where

She began

You wrote down there

Adam was formed

From the dust

You breathed in him

You breathe in us

9 months You knit

9 months You form

9 months You know

Each one in the womb

You formed her too

This woman here

So in kneeling down

You checked her origins

This woman was not

Defined by You

As "sinner"

But as "beloved" too

This changes everything

It changed it for her

As one by one

Her accusers, deterred

By grace,

Could not upend her life

By grace,

Who would pay the price

For Jesus,

Hanging on the tree

Died for you

Died for me

Died for all

For all eternity

That is why

We are free

So you know

Next time you sin

Or if your guilt ne're

seems to end:

Jesus writes 

In sand for you

Remembers where

He formed you

And says to you

"My child, my love

Go, sin no more"

He says to us

"I formed you

Love, I chose

You when

Your eyes were closed

Before you saw

I gave you sight"

He thinks of this

And writes each time

You sin

I sin

He writes again

In dust

A new story

That will never end

Receive His grace

Receive, again

Receive the Son

His love, my friend