When I Fall in Love

Though He spoke of her beliefs with expert knowledge, it wasn’t until this exchange that He won her over: “Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come here.’ The woman answered and said, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You have well said, “I have no husband,” for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.’The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.’” (John 4: 16-18, NKJ)

Jesus told her the truth and she appreciated it. He never condemned her for shacking up; He just made it next to impossible for her to continue. She knew he wasn’t a prophet. She knew exactly who He was and ran to tell everybody.

By the time I marinated on Jesus’ rescue of the adulteress, I was falling in love. He lovingly protected a woman brought to Him for condemnation by the scribes and Pharisees.

‘“Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’ (John 8: 3-11 NKJ)

I honestly wish I could say Jesus had me at hello, but He didn’t. Ours was a slow brewing love, on my part; He loved me first and deepest before our formal introduction. I just had to get to know Him better and when I did …