CHRIST'S LOVE FOR US AS WOMEN

As I find myself intentionally seeking and reflecting on Jesus during this time of lent. I'm overwhelmed by the goodness of Jesus as his life journey plays through my mind up to the leading of the cross. I'm filled with gratitude and awe as my time of reflection becomes personal, filled with tears i ask God to help me see what it is that he wants me to know. As I search the word I find myself at the water well in John 4, mid afternoon scorching hot sun, a women walking alone to the well to fetch water A Samaritan women. An very unlikely sight to see at this time of the day. Normally a walk to the well would be late afternoon the sun not so high and accompanied by friends. However she walked alone, the Samaritan women an outcast, treated differently because of her choice of life. As she walked to the well there is a man sitting thirsty and in need of a drink. He asked her: "give me a drink" she replied: "how is it that you a Jew should ask me for a drink" 

At the time in Jesus' time , Jews had no dealings with women of Samaria. The law of that time considered Samaritan women unclean, due to their belief that they constantly on their period🙄. Thus her question to the man at the well.

That day at the well all rules were broken for both the Samaritan women, any other women in that time and for generations to come(including us). It was prohibited 🚫 to have conversations between a man and women publicly, Jew and Samaritan, especially between strangers. Women were thought to be uneducable, women were unreliable in the courtroom as a witness, Women were held responsible for men's lustful temptations, there was a group called the " bruised and bleeding Pharisees" because they would rather cover their eyes than look upon a women in public; as a consequence they would bump into walls , houses and I'm sure people. women were the greatest source of their personal sin 🙈🙊. Rather then dealing with the sin in their heart they contributed greatly to the culture of how women were treated then and with this Some would never ask a women let alone

a Samaritan women for water they would rather go thirsty then violate the law.

That day at the well, the man we call Jesus, made a radical statement to the law

Of the time, to those looking on and set in place how us as women should be treated.

Jesus came and treated women like no man has ever treated her before 😍😍, he treated her with warmth, personal attention, tenderness, compassion and openly demonstrate his love for each individual he met, both men and women. That day at the well would change the prayer of some Jewish men "thank-you God, I'm not a slave, a gentile or a woman"

I thank God for his coming, Cause I am the slave, I am the gentile (a person who is not Jewish) and I am a women.

In Jesus' ministry there is an beautiful approach to women, the way God has always seen us and wanted us to be seen.

Jesus spoke to women publicly (Luke 8)

Jesus let women travel with him and support his ministry (Luke 8)

He thought women openly (Luke 10)

Women were the first to witness the resurrection 🙌🏼🙌🏼 (John 20)

He never made bad jokes towards women, humiliated or exploited her. Women who new

Him wanted to be close to Him and serve him. He showed us how we supposed to be loved.

That day at the well asking for a water was all part of God's initial plan for us as slave, gentile and women.

Praise be to God, I'm in awe, I am free to be a the women I am today. He, Jesus started the fight for us as women long ago.

Think about how awesome that is.

As you reflect on the awesomeness of God.

I would like us to pray for our sisters in Saudi Arabia that does not have the freedom as us and the women, girls, boys and men sold into

Human trafficking. Pray that God would bring physical and spiritual freedom and the good news of the gospel to them.

Thanking you for praying.

references from Walvoord and Zuck, the Bible knowledge commentary, New Testament

And Melanie Newton, live out his love 

#lent #devotion