According to John: "How Jesus Dealt with Women"

The book of John has been given a bad "rap" in many circles. It has been used to slam the condemning gavel of judgement on unsuspecting and imperfect hearts. It is interesting to note that Jesus's favorite disciple (John the beloved) is believed to be the author of this book. The pages are enveloped with love but often misinterpreted as a book of rules, ridicule, and rejection.

Opening the book of John, it is interesting to note that Jesus's first mention with a woman involves taking indirect orders from her. I love the fact that the Savior of the world took the time to attend a wedding with his mother. When the wedding started crashing, Mary bravely told Jesus the problem with a suggestive hint of fixing it... And He did. Jesus's first miracle... Inspired by a woman...

Skip 2 chapters and Jesus runs into a Samaritan woman. Samaritan is important because it means (non-Jew)... Jews at that time did not speak to Samaritans... and women were viewed (in many circles) as "dogs" especially to Jewish men such as Jesus.. but Jesus saw past gender... past race... and the author was touched that the Christ would take the time to minister to a woman engulfed in adultery and sin and offer her salvation... He extended grace to a woman lacking... and used this simple and broken woman to bring an entire town to Christ... inspiring...

Skip 4 more chapters... and a sermon by Jesus is interrupted when yet another woman marked with the scarlet letter "A" is brought before Him... the people have sentenced her to death by stoning... traditional in that day... Jesus stoops instead of stands... draws in the sand instead of pointing fingers and says "He that is without sin, cast the first stone"... and one by one... all stones were dropped... Jesus again broke gender barriers and chose redemption over ritual...

John 11 and Jesus runs to the aid of 2 women mourning the death of their brother. They did not weep alone as the Messiah (Jesus) is stated in the shortest Bible verse written "Jesus wept". It is interesting that the Son of God knew that he would raise their brother to life but yet still wept with Mary and Martha. His compassion was astounding and his love for these women again must have touched the author so much so that it graces the pages of this book. The women fell at Jesus's feet and even blamed him for not being there when their brother died. Jesus knew how to deal with women, even when under scrutiny, and saw past their pain and to their faith... And as all his disciples... and all the people watched... Jesus, at the request of 2 sinners, raised their brother to life...

Love is found in almost every chapter... every page... of this book... It is written by a man who was loved... about a Savior who was loved... to a world needing love... even to a gender... who desperately desires love...

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