The Woman Nobody Wanted

There’s been a lot of “patriotism” in the air this past week. Remembering 9/11 dominated all the Friday headlines. It is valuable and necessary for us as a nation to be vigilant in protecting ourselves from an enemy who wants to harm us. It is hurtful and unproductive for us to single out a group of people as targets for our anger.

There are plenty of “enemies” out there with the potential to do equal or greater harm than 9/11. There is an enemy who has your marriage in his crosshairs at this very moment. He is plotting the downfall of your family. He would like nothing better than to see your reputation crumble. He’s laying a trap for your future and scheming to undermine your peace and joy for today.

In 2 Corinthians 2:11, Paul wrote that he was not “unaware of Satan’s schemes”. But I’m afraid we often are. People all around us are sending out distress signals, and so often we miss them. It is easier to label them as weak, immoral, shameful and pitiful. When truly, they have fallen victim to Satan’s schemes. And God calls on us to search and rescue.

If ever there was a woman with a wounded soul, it was the woman at the well in John 4. She didn’t hide it. She couldn’t hide it. It was obvious. Were her shoulders slumped from the weight of the water jars or the weariness of her life? If her eyes looked tired, it may have been from ducking the condemning glances of her neighbors. Surely her heart bore some scars and callouses from her 5 failed marriages.

Jesus deliberately placed himself face to face with this person whom nobody else wanted. He read the signs that told the story of her troubled life. The enemy’s bullet had certainly found its mark. Maybe Jesus had already heard the gossip about her. Maybe he just saw the sadness in her eyes. But rather than shame her and condemn her, Jesus sang a new song of hope into her life.

Jesus was looking for what was in this woman’s heart. He looked at her through love’s eyes. And love always sees the best. Love always looks for the best. Rather than seeing a damaged woman from an inferior race, Jesus saw a woman wounded by the enemy - living in darkness…. but hungry for God. And Jesus gave her the greatest gift.

Everyone else had missed it. But not the Messiah. The gentleness of his touch and the kindness of his words brought instant healing. And he touched her heart with a message of hope that reached into eternity

This week a friend reminded me of the lyrics to an Alan Jackson song. (I know - who would have thought to look there for wisdom!)

I know Jesus and I talk to God
and I remember this from when I was young:
Faith, Hope and Love are some good things He gave us…
and the Greatest is Love.