THE 7th MAN !

Never underestimate the presence, power, or purpose of Jesus Christ.  To be honest, I am thrilled to tell you that Jesus cannot be restrained by our religious legalism or finite perceptions of Who He is - What He can do or Where He can go.  I am excited to tell you that Jesus can and will do that which He has resolved to do.  He does not ask for my permission as He connects with humanity, calling the least likely, anointing the unlovable, showing up when we least expect it...He just IS and WILL be in control.   I am grateful beyond measure that there is a 'just' God in Heaven! 

The Word tells of encounters between Jesus and people...when they least expected it.  One of my favorites is the woman at the well, found in John 4.  Jesus told his disciples: I need to go through Samaria.   They arrived at a well.  Jesus sat there while He sent the disciples into town to buy food.  A woman came to draw water from that same well.  She didn't know Jesus.  She wasn't expecting a face-to-face conversation with the Son of God!  She was a Samaritan. Jesus asked her for a cup of water.  Now, Jews didn't share a cup with a Samaritan! Especially with a woman whose life had little value.  She was despised, had an abusive past, a rejected person, a person at her wit's end...and even worse, she was a woman scorned by society...and to think, Jesus was waiting for her! 

This is what I'm trying to relate about Jesus!  He makes appointments with rejected, hurting people and He doesn't wait for an RSVP.  Knowing everything about this woman's life...Jesus deliberately traveled to the exact location...at the exact time, knowing she would be there.  And...He arrived ahead of her!  This unnamed woman didn't know how to be spiritual...she only perceived the natural world.  She didn't know how to make this spiritual moment happen!  She was just doing what she did every day.  Just doing life.  Nothing more. 

Another point:  He sent the men away for food.  She would not have been comfortable around them, after all, they were Jewish.  She would have been less approachable had they remained.  That which could not have happened in the presence of several...did happen in the presence of the One.  Jesus will clear the room, if necessary, in order to have a private talk with you.  He protected her. He knew she was fragile.  Oh, that we could see the frail, thin thread holding a life together, rather than focusing on the external marks of sin.  He didn't slam her with condemnation for her past nor did he look down on her.  He spoke to her as a loving father.

In the middle east when you ask for something, you've just lowered yourself.  Jesus lowered Himself... as with the woman caught in adultery...He stooped.  You can't 'stoop' and appear self-righteous at the same time.  Jesus is all about life-change.  It is Kingly...to place the need in a life above the pride of who we are...or...who we think we are!  The conversation at the well provided Jesus opportunity to transform a fleshly focused woman.  Through spiritual enlightenment she gained a revelation of the identity of the Son of God!

I so appreciate the extreme love shown by Jesus for humanity.   When I don't understand / He explains.  When I am not spiritual / He doesn't avoid me.  When I have pain / He heals.  When I don't have a clue about how to meet him / He just arranges an appointment and waits for me to show up.  When I don't know what to say / He initiates the conversation.

Conclusion:  Jesus told the woman at the well that she'd had five husbands...and the man she was living with was not her husband. Do the math.  Her life became whole, transformed, enlightened, and her shame turned to boldness, after a conversation, a face-to-face meeting (which she didn't arrange) with the Son of God - - -
     SHE MET THE 7th MAN AND SHE WAS NEVER THE SAME.

Oh, by the way,  "7" is God's Number of Completion! 

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
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