Jesus and Women

Most women have been hurt by a man. According to an Internet survey of almost 250 women across the United States, 60% said they had been hurt by their dad and 83% said they had been hurt by a man other than their dad.

The Knife Dug Deep

The knife dug deep into many women leaving wounds time hasn’t healed. For others, the hurt was just an emotional scratch. And while a woman’s dad may have been the first man to hurt her, others followed . . . boyfriends, husbands, brothers, bosses, classmates, teammates, strangers and friends. Too often the very men she leaned on for protection hurt her the most.

He Never Hurt a Woman

As I was thinking about this it occurred to me that Jesus never hurt a woman. I don’t mean he never spoke disappointing and even painful words to them. He did. I mean he never hurt a woman by saying or doing something inappropriate or insensitive.

“I'm Back”

Just the other day Cindy came home as I was writing. She stuck her head in my office, smiled and said, “I’m back.”

I glanced at her and said “hi” and returned to my work.

She walked to the kitchen and a moment later returned. “What you said hurt me.”

“What did I say?”

“You said, ‘Hi.’” She laughed, realizing how silly her comment sounded. “It was the way you said it.”

“How’d I say it?”

“You said it like I was intruding. Like I annoyed you.”

“Ummm. I was working. You know, focused.”

“Well, I thought you should know it was the tone of your voice.”

She Was Right

She was right. But in that moment I had no way of knowing how I said, “Hi” would affect her. Just a slight change in vocal tone communicated indifference.

A Little Thing

I know it’s a little thing. But Jesus never did that to a woman. No harsh or dismissive tone. No half-truths or lies. No broken promises. No inappropriate yelling. No drunken outbursts. No cutting sarcasm. No flirtatious looks. No defensiveness. Every interaction Jesus had with a woman expressed love. Every interaction brought them closer to God. To him.