The Pharisees were using the woman as a pawn in their plot to trap Jesus. But John 8:1-11 is not the story of Jesus caught in a trap, but of Jesus taking both the sin and shame of this woman upon himself. When all eyes were on her and she was the center of attention, Jesus became the center of attention and all eyes were on him. What an incredible act of compassion, gentleness and kindness from Jesus! But the story gets better still for it is at the cross where our story meets the story of this woman. On the cross, justice is satisfied as sin in punished by death. And on the cross, mercy is exalted as that death is taken by Jesus, not us. It is on the cross, as Psalm 85:10 summarizes, "where mercy and justice meet, where righteousness and peace kiss." Mercy and justice meet for us eternally and perfectly through his finished work on the cross!