4 Lessons Learned From Jesus and the Prostitute
As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve been judgmental. I have formed opinions about women based on their clothes, amount of skin revealed, number of tattoos, you name it; I’ve judged it. It sounds bad coming from a professed Christian, but the subject matter compels me to be painfully honest.
My periodic perceived superiority over “women like that” has kept me filled with pride, unable to get the catastrophic plank out of my own eye. I spent my life drawing the line of demarcation between them and me. This all changed one Monday morning in February as I sat stuck in rush hour traffic.
My ears were tuned to the usual radio station but nothing was usual about what I heard. Words met me instead of music as I pressed the button from off to on. And in a matter of seconds my puffed up ego was deflated by a woman I have never seen and never met. Like water on dry ground, I drank in bitter cupfuls of her story; and soon it became evident that we were not so different.
She lived a snowball of traumatic events prior to prostitution: neglect, abuse, and promiscuity. In her own words she explains,“I just wanted the attention of a man.” It was this ache that linked she and I.
The ache to be loved, held, cherished, and valued was no stranger to my soul. So as she spoke of being wooed by a man at a strip club, I did not question her actions. Deception clouded her judgement and eventually led to a life trafficked in the sex trade.
“I’m proud of you,” he told her as she handed him her earnings for the night. In retrospect, she said, “I had never heard a man in my entire life. . . tell me I’m proud of you.” His words filled a gaping hole inside, and she responded with obedience. I understood that response; I too had never heard a man say, “I’m proud of you
In desperation, I have tried to get my needs met by men who were incapable of meeting them. And as I sat sobbing in the middle of I 285, I thought about how her story could have been mine.
Like sisters separated at birth, there was a bond between us. We were united by a father – shaped void. The invisible hierarchy I created to keep me on a tier above hers was permanently destroyed.
But Christ destroyed it before I did. Nestled within the scriptures God has provided several examples where His compassion was extended to “women like that” women like me. He showed the world how to love and not judge women who are imperfect, broken, and in desperate need of a Savior.
The Woman Caught in Adultery
John 8: 3 – 11(NIV)
This nameless woman endured the public humiliation of her sin.
Jesus saved her life.
Mary Magdalene
Luke 8: 2 (NIV); Luke 7:37 – 38 (NIV)
Known as the sinful woman whom Jesus cast seven demons from, she expressed her love for Christ by anointing His feet with expensive perfume.
Jesus silenced her critics.
The Woman At the Well
John 4: 4 – 28 (NIV)
She was the Samaritan woman who had been married five times and was in another relationship when she encountered Jesus at the well.
Jesus met her emotional needs.
Whether prostitute or princess, Christ has abolished every societal rank. His actions speak volumes about the nature of our Heavenly Father and His incredible love for everyone of his daughters. That day, I walked away from my commute with some powerful lessons about myself, the prostitute, and God.
An ache for a father’s affirmation does not discriminate.
A woman’s appearance does not determine her worth.
Our past does not dictate our future.
Christ elevates the existence of all.
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Hi Kia! Gosh, girl, I can COMPLETELY relate to this. I heard “I’m proud of you” once. I was 14. The setting and words are still crystal clear today, over 30 years later. Isn’t it amazing how impactful words are? I thank God for His Word and for His nonjudgmental love that binds and gathers in gorgeous ways. #writeonJesusgirl #testimonyTuesday
Kristi recently posted…3 Ways to Fix Your Eyes
Kristi it is amazing. I didn’t expect to be hit by a wave of emotion that day by just four simple words. I am thankful that God says I’m proud of you, in His word. Be blessed! – Kia
“We are not so different”, indeed.
We all have our “things” that look different on the outside, but at the heart of them, they look very much the same.
Praise God for Jesus!
Lovely post, Kia. Thanks for sharing.
~ Your neighbor at the Intentional Tuesday Linkup. 🙂
Brenda recently posted…Alone in a Crowd
Brenda, may we see has God sees, not the outer things but the heart! God has elevated the existence of all women and he sees us the same. Thanks for joining the conversation and be blessed! – Kia
Wow, excellent insight, Kia. We are not so different after all…love that you are sharing ways God is moving you toward others, even when it means you share the ways you’ve been wrong. And I loved what you said about how the void she had could have been mine. Powerful! #RaRaLinkup
Thanks Angela, it is so sobering when you begin to see your commonality with women you have previously judged. God is truly the GREAT equalizer. Thanks for joining the conversation today. Be blessed! – Kia
Whether we recognize it consciously or not, I think we all have our prejudices-whether it’s race, color, clothing style, music, parenting styles, you name it. Different makes us uncomfortable, that is, until we come to the revelation and realization that we were each, individually, created by the same creator, in God’s image. Thank you for your vulnerability and giving us pause to think, and take the catastrophic plank out of our own eyes.
Dr. Michelle Bengtson recently posted…Truly Fit – Part 1: Created To Stand Out
Dr. Bengston, you said it well ” Different makes us uncomfortable.” But this is not the heart of God. I hope this honest post will help other women to join me in taking the plank out of our eyes so we can see our sisters as God does. Glad you joined the conversation today. Be blessed! – Kia
Kia, that void “she” feels, that need to be filled up with … we’re all the same … desperately in need of a Savior. Thankful my worth can be found in the truth of God’s Word. Thank you, Kia, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
Crystal Storms recently posted…Are You Kind to You?
Crystal, I do believe we are more alike than different, searching for God in our own way. So glad you joined the conversation. Be blessed! – Kia
Thank so much for this much needed word to the church today. I especially love this, “The ache to be: loved, held, cherished, and valued was no stranger to my soul.” Yes, exactly! Thanks for linking this up with at Grace & Truth!
Holly Brown recently posted…Husbands, Delight in Your Wives
Holly, I think if we stripped ourselves down to the core we’d find we are more similar than different. This post was a must for me, in that I had to capture the lessons I learned that day in words. I’m so glad you joined the conversation today. Be blessed! – Kia