What did Jesus write? (The adulterous woman)

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.

But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.

Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”

She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more.” (John 8:1-11)

What did Jesus write that made them leave by age?

Previously in John 7, Jesus compares Himself to a fountain of living water when He says

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38)

Jesus stood and cried this out causing people who heard to believe that He was the Christ. Even the officers who had orders from the chief priests and Pharisees would not arrest Jesus because of these words.

However, even this did not sway the Pharisees. John 7:47-48 says,

The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? “No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he?

This brings up Jeremiah 17:13

O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the LORD.

Therefore, I believe Jesus was writing their names in the earth or ground because they had forsaken Him, or abandoned the idea that He was sent from the LORD.

Seeing how Jesus fulfilled the Law without sin, He would have honored the aged as it says in Leviticus 19:32 by writing their names first. I believe the Scriptures specifying Jesus straightened up, or stood up, to speak to them is a confirmation.

As Jesus says in Mark 4:22

“For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.

References

John 8:1-11

John 7:37-38

John 47-48

Jeremiah 17:13

Leviticus 19:32 – ‘You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.

Mark 4:22