The way Jesus treated women who had been vilified by others is not only beautiful but also exemplary. It sets the tone for how we are to treat others that society or the circles you find yourself in call less than.
See how He relates with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11): I do not condemnation you, go and sin no more. (Don’t get me started on the issue of where the man with which she committed the adultery with was at the time and why he isn’t being dragged along as well to be held accountable for his wrong choices)
How about the way Jesus relates with the woman at the well (John 4:7-42): Yes, I know your questionable history, I’m aware of your present predicaments too. What I’m concerned about is the state of your heart. Come to Me. You have been looking for love in all the wrong places. Drink of the living water I’m offering you and you will never thirst for another man’s approval again.
Then there is the woman who touched the hem of His garment whilst ritually unclean (Matthew 9:20-22). Jesus didn’t scream unclean, unclean and go purify Himself as the customs of the day required. Instead with love He says my daughter, I’m sorry you’ve been going through this unimaginable difficulty, mentally, physically, emotionally and socially. I’m so happy that you are well now. You deserve every joy, every happiness and love. You have great and admirable faith. Your faith confidence and trust in me has healed you. Go in peace and enjoy rest from the troubles you previously had.
All these are real women, not fictional ones. Women with baggage and issues and flaws, with real issues and deep hurts. Relatable real-life women. And what they all had in common, more than the issues and baggage and judgement from society, was that they all encountered Jesus. He met them with love, not disgust or even indifference. Jesus was moved with compassion at every single encounter. And guess what, as soon as each and everyone of these women encountered Jesus, they did not remain the same. The love of Jesus healed them, delivered them, freed them and empowered them on every single level. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially.
To the woman caught in sin, Jesus was a bold defender. He called her accusers to examine themselves first and thus exposed their hypocrisy. Let He that is without sin cast the first stone. He was also a gentle and firm Savior because as He took away her condemnation, He also told her to go and sin no more. Affirming the truth that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. And that we do not use the grace of God as an excuse to continue in sin.
For the woman at the well, her encounter with Jesus transformed her from social outcast to bold evangelist in a matter of hours. From a woman living a shameful lifestyle, relegated to fetching water at the hottest part of the day to avoid the crowds with their looks of judgment and disgust, to a woman courageously running into the very places she previously strived to avoid, into the crowded marketplaces witnessing for Christ. And not only did they listen to her, but they followed her to Jesus. That, that is the beautiful transformation that happens in the life of everyone who encounters Jesus. Irrespective of their past or present. Jesus always makes all things beautiful.
GettyImages | Erdre
When Jesus saw the woman at the well, He did not only see her flaws and weaknesses but He beyond that, He saw her need and sought to meet it. Jesus did not tell her she was unworthy to be in His presence because of her life choices and her mistakes. Instead, He drew her closer and said come to me and you will never thirst.
Jesus quenches our deepest desires with His living water. It is not a stale water but a living, fresh and refreshing water. Unlike anything you have ever seen or experienced before. This living water is supernatural because it never runs out and never runs dry.
Just like He called to the woman at the well, Jesus calls you to come to Him. Not after you are clean and holy and righteous but while you are heavily burdened with all the cares of this world, and He will give you rest. Rest from guilt, sin, sickness, financial stresses, anxiety, fear, depression, condemnation, name it. He invites you to cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you and because He can handle it. He can take it. His arm is not too weak to save you.
Isaiah 59:1 The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is His ear too deaf to hear you call.
When you come to Jesus as you are, you do not remain the same because He transforms you from the inside out by giving you a new heart and renewing your mind. When you let Jesus in by choosing to follow Him as your Lord and Savior, He purifies you and His Holy Spirit living and working in you gives you supernatural power to live in righteousness: doing God’s will. Just like my favorite Bible verse says: for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. Philippians 2:13
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:27-30
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Read more of Rachel’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
