Jesus Saw Women – WJS11

Scripture: John 4:1-42 Click link for Scripture

4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” (John 4:4-9 NLT)

Jesus, tired from his journey, was sitting beside a well outside the Samaritan village of Sychar, while his disciples had gone into the village to buy food. A Samaritan woman came to the well for water, and Jesus asked her for a drink. She was surprised at his request because: 1) She was a Samaritan, and Jews despised Samaritans. 2) She was a woman, and Jewish men did not normally speak to women in settings like this because women were considered inferior to men. They talked for awhile about race, religion, and Living Water! Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” (John 4:27 NLT)

Jesus saw women as persons, not objects. Jesus saw women as just as valuable as men. Jesus showed honor and respect for women and pretty much turned the prevailing cultural attitude toward women on its head! The lowest, most powerless, and least regarded people in the culture of the day were, in no particular order, women, the poor, non-Jews, and foreigners. Jesus offended a lot of Jewish men by treating women, the poor, and foreigners, all with respect.

We’ve still got a ways to go to see women as Jesus saw women. Gender equality has become a hot-button issue in the USA right now. For those of you who live in other societies and cultures, even if your society is ahead of mine on this matter, you know we’ve all got a ways to go on it. And we men, who have enjoyed male privilege for so long, need to suck it up and stop whining when the pendulum swings past center from time to time! Pendulums do that, you know!

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for Jesus’ example of honoring and respecting women, the poor, and the outsiders. Please help us to see other people, all other people, as Jesus sees them. May our systems change as our hearts grow and change. In Jesus’ Name.