"Lord, save me!"
25 "For what do you punish this woman?" The Teacher asked.
26 "She is my wife," cried a man in the crowd, "and we caught her in
adultery."
27 "And for this," asked The Teacher, "you would stone her?"
28 He reached down and picked up a stone. "Let any married man who has
not known another man's wife in his absence, or, a whore, come forward.
Take this stone and cast it."
29 One by one the men in the crowd bowed their heads and walked away
until only the husband stood with his head bowed. The Teacher untied
the woman's hands. "Your sins, woman," he commanded, "are forgiven you.
Go home. "
30 The woman went to her husband and fell at his feet. He lifted her up
and led her off.
31 "Who is he," whispered some of the people by the gate, "that he
forgives a woman's sins? Only The Lord of Hosts can forgive sins."
32 "Then you know who he is," cried The Student. "You have spoken his
name. He is The Teacher sent by The Lord of Hosts, born of The Virgin,
The One Pure, without blemish. Only he, living among men, would dare
forgive sin."
33 The Tax Collector and The Oxman looked at their young companion, who
himself , was startled at his words.
34 The crowd rushed forward , the sick to be healed, the well to be
blessed. But one young man, dressed in a bright robe like a woman, with
rings
in his ears and necklaces, and, bracelets held back.
35 When the crowd fell back, The Teacher of The One turned toward him.
"Do you not want a blessing?" he asked.