Naked

Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." — John 8:10-11

A hastily snatched tunic was all that covered her nakedness, yet even it could not shield her from their hungry eyes. Just moments ago she had been in the arms of a man who promised to protect her, to cherish her, to love her. But he was gone now. He had melted away. Now more men held her.

The first man had promised to love her, but left after using her body. The second men wanted her too, not for her body, but because of it. She was a commodity to be used for another’s gain. She felt it. Clothed, yet she stood naked before the crowd.

Now new eyes lingered on her, but eyes unlike she’d seen before. These eyes weren’t filled with hunger, but she knew they saw through her. Drawing her tunic tighter could not hide her shame; she knew it was a deeper nakedness he saw. And it was then, in that moment, completely exposed under the gaze of ancient eyes, she finally found one who truly saw her, truly knew her, yet truly loved her.

It felt as though she alone was in his presence, until suddenly, she was. More had been said between them, more even than had been inscribed in the dirt at her feet.

“Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, Lord."

And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."