In that culture and even within the church, women were not allowed to be where men were in the temple. Those with physical diseases like she had were cast out and were outsiders.
This woman presses in, needing to be touched. She probably needed human touch in general, not being allowed to be with the rest of her society, she lacked human touch, care, compassion and kindness extended to her. Her need was great though. Her body needed to be physically healed too. She had a disease that had ruled her life for years.
Jesus didn't freak out, He wasn't threatened by her presence in a place where the rules said she wasn't supposed to be. No, HE set aside cultural, societal, and church rules and norms to meet her need, restore her, and practice real love.
She wasn't allowed in the temple where the men and the healthy were, but I'm so glad Jesus welcomes everyone, that's His way. In fact, Jesus even corrected the religious rulers when they spoke out against Jesus healing her, allowing her in their space, making them uncomfortable, and taking up their time.
Jesus went beyond the usual, the expected and He met a need. Practical love. 1 Corinthians defines love for us.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
In the sermon, James pointed out that Jesus could have arranged for the woman to come back, when it was more convenient. When it was more comfortable for Him. (Kind of awkward being interrupted while teaching at the temple). He could have said, come back to me tomorrow, I'll be on the tall hill, preaching to a few thousand people, we can make this a great opportunity for Me to be recognized.
He was patient with her, as it took her a while to walk down the aisle since she was bent in half, unable to walk upright for years. He was kind, He touched her when most people were unsure of how to act around her. He was not envious of the attention she was probably grabbing. He wasn't rude to her, telling her that the rules said she was not really supposed to be there. No, HE protected her. Offered her hope. Corinthians doesn't say love is -sometimes- those things or that love is those things when it's easy or when we feel like doing them. It says love is -always-.
The leaders that Jesus was teaching could have avoided the awkward situation by removing her, since she wasn't really allowed to be there. That would have been the easy thing. Jesus demonstrated the love He expects from us though. To welcome the unwelcomed, to help restore those that have been cast out and labeled in our society, He wants us to meet needs. When we see someone hurting, we aren't to turn away because it's easier than persevering through a little discomfort. No, I think Jesus set the standard. Not just in this one example either. I'm thinking of the woman ready to be stoned, the tax collector in the tree, the children who stormed Him to sit on His lap when the disciples thought children had no place, the woman at the well - she was one of those people that His type weren't supposed to talk to. Time after time, He showed us His way.
That was one of the most memorable sermons I've heard. It challenges me to look beyond the norms, the uncomfortableness or awkwardness and seeing hurting people. Then, once you see them, meet their needs. After all, if love is kind and not self seeking, that's what Jesus would do. That's what He did.
lol, I was wondering, "Why doesn't she put this on her blog?".... I guess you did. :)
ReplyDelete-Lisa Carroll
Wow, what a wonderful sermon summary! I loved this:
ReplyDelete"It challenges me to look beyond the norms, the uncomfortableness or awkwardness and seeing hurting people. Then, once you see them, meet their needs."
I think you would enjoy Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes. It's a long book, but one you could slowly make your way through and just absorb what the author has to say. Almost like an addition to your devotions, like a commentary. It was a great book and touched on how Jesus went outside cultural norms in many ways. I wrote this the other day about one such chapter that I particularly enjoyed.
"The Woman in the House of Simon the Pharisee" -- I enjoyed the notes on feet and women's hair in that culture. How feet were considered defiled (see footnote on pg. 246) and how women's hair was viewed. It made me appreciate what this lady did by washing Jesus' feet with her tears and hair and touching him. It also made me appreciate the compassion of Jesus who could have further made her into an outcast by reprimanding her for such appalling behavior. Pages 248-250 speak of women's hair and how it was viewed and continues to be viewed in conservative societies. Wonderful chapter!
Thanks for posting this! Loved it!
Jennifer Knapp wrote and sung a song about the woman with the alabaster box. Very touching song. I should see if I can find that book at my library, Susanne.
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