Two Women Who Met Jesus

The text below was taken from Scepter Institute's brochure Two Women Who Met Jesus. Printed brochures may be purchased in quantities of 100, see our Products page for more information.

What Happened to Me at Lunch Time

"Let me tell you about my day!" It started out like any other one. The man I was with was mad about something. He never said why, and I never figured it out. Typical. He was complaining about the lunch and the place being a mess. It's always a mess. He doesn't help. I have to do it all. That's why I had to go out of town to the well for water. I wish he would try that sometime. That clay jug weighs over fifty pounds when it's full!

So there I was, ready to get water from the well. The next thing I know, there is this man talking to me. At first I thought there was someone else there, but then I realized he was asking me for help. It wasn't like some of those opening lines I've heard from guys; it was like I was important. I couldn't believe it. I could tell right off he was religious, but religious guys like him usually don't talk to unreligious people like me, especially to women they think are loose.

People call me loose. Some call me worse than that. But I'm not, really. It's just that relationships often go too far, and guys have been known to bail out. Boy, do I know that! So, I've seen a lot, and some people avoid me. But not him.

I was confused and I told him, "What are you doing asking me for a drink of water?" That's when things got a little strange — and kind of amazing. He started telling me about the "living water" he would give me. Him? Give me something? He said that the water he would give me would make it so that I was never thirsty again. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm thirsty a lot. What he offered sounded good to me. So I said, "Sure. Why not? Give me some of that water."

Then he told me to go get my husband. Like I said, I've had a complicated life, but I wasn't ready to go into all that, so I put him off. I said, "I don't have a husband." He looked straight at me, and suddenly I realized that he knew all about me. He knew the junk I've been through, and he knew the shame and humiliation. You may have been through a lot, but I've had five husbands. I've felt like a real loser for a long time. The guy I've been living with doesn't want to get married, and I'm not sure I want to anyway.

He knew all about that — and he told me all of it. How did he know?

Do you know what I'm saying? This man knew all the worst stuff about me and still wanted to help me. And not only that, he said that God was looking for people like me to worship Him and to live a new life. I felt like God was speaking ... to me.

Now, as I said, I'm not what you cal religious. Most religious people don't seem to want me around. But I remember some stuff from when I was growing up. Something about God sending a savior to help people who have messed up — sinners like me. Some day a special servant of God would come, someone called Messiah. And then this guy blew me away by saying, "I'm the Messiah."

Sure, anyone can claim to be God's special messenger. But this is the first man I've ever met who knew me inside and out. He didn't hate me, and he didn't want to use me. He wanted to help me. For the first time since I was a kid, I felt like there was hope for me. I felt like things could change, that my life could turn around. And I wanted to change. I wanted to give up my sin and my disobedience. I even began to want to know more about God. After all I've done, I sometimes feel ashamed or even dirty. I can't imagine that God would care about me. But then I thought, "Why else would this truly holy man bother to talk to me if he wasn't sent from God?"

Just then, some of his followers came back from town and were giving me looks, so I decided to head for home. But do you know what? I'm sure I'm going back to listen to this man and hear more about a new life with God. I was so excited, I forgot about bringing water back. All I could do was tell everybody in town about him, and they went out and listened to him too. I know you weren't there, but I wish you could have heard what they said. They said, "We know that this man really is the savior of the world." I know he is my savior.

His name? Didn't I say? It's Jesus.

This story is adapted from a real life account that can be found in the Gospel According to John, chapter 4, verses 1 through 42.

The Day I Became an Uninvited Guest

"You won't believe what I did the other day!" People must have thought I was crazy. I heard that Jesus was in town at a dinner party at Simon's house. Simon is an important man in this town, an important religious leader. I wasn't invited to the party, but I just had to go.

I usually don't do things like that, but that isn't the worst of it. You should hear what I did! But, maybe I should back up and fill you in on the whole story first.

I'd heard of Jesus before. One time, I heard him preach about God and about forgiveness of sins. It was such wonderful news to me because I've lived quite a sinful life. I won't try to explain or defend myself. I'll just say that once you get into a rut like that, no one wants to give you the time of day or a second chance. People will talk behind your back. And men will use you and take what they can from you — and you know what that means!

But Jesus was different. He cared about what my sin did to me. He cared about how my sin made me feel like I couldn't pray or get close to God. I'm no expert on God, but I know that I have broken his commands. I heard Jesus speak of paying for sins. He once said that he came from God to serve people and to give his life as a ransom for many. Imagine that! Jesus giving his life to pay a price for me. What I would do for someone like that!

So what happened? I heard that Jesus was at Simon's, and I wanted to do something for him. I don't know what came over me, but all I could think of was doing some humble service for him, just like servants do for rich people. So I went to Simon's house — uninvited. I walked right into the room in front of everyone! I could feel them all looking at me. I could tell that Simon was mad, but that didn't stop me. I just wanted to do something for Jesus.

Jesus and all the others were sitting on pillows on the floor around a large, low table. Jesus' feet were off to one side. I stood behind Jesus at his feet. And then, the thought of his love and care for someone like me overwhelmed me, and the tears started flowing. My tears fell onto his feet. I didn't have a towel, so I let down my hair and used it to wipe his feet. Then I took some expensive, sweet-smelling oil and poured it on his feet.

In front of all those people! It should have been the most embarrassing moment of my life ... but it wasn't. I didn't care about anyone else. All I cared about was that Jesus had forgiven my sins and I was clean in God's eyes.

Maybe you don't understand. I know Simon and all his dinner guests didn't understand. But Jesus did.

When I finished smoothing the oil onto his feet, Jesus spoke. He told a story of two men who owed money to the same moneylender. One owed thousands of dollars, and the other one owed a few hundred. Neither of them could pay the money back, so the man canceled both debts. Then Jesus asked, "Which one of them loved him more?" And Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

I suppose so too! That's exactly why I did it. I've sinned a lot. Jesus has forgiven me a lot. And I've come to love him a lot. Simon despises me and thinks I'm crazy. I'm sure his high-class guests despise me and think I'm crazy. Maybe you do too. But Jesus loves me and has forgiven me. In return, I love him and will do anything to serve him.

You know what? It was the craziest thing I've ever done. But I'd do it again!"

This story is adapted from a real life account that can be found in the Gospel According to Luke, chapter 7, verses 36 through 50.

What Does This Mean? A Little Explanation

These stories are about two real women who met Jesus a long time ago. Women and men still meet Jesus every day, and through Jesus they come to know God. Knowing God gives us eternal life — a life of peace and joy now and forever. However, our sin makes eternal life with God impossible until that sin is paid for and forgiven. These two women found forgiveness and eternal life. If you would like to know more about a life relationship with God, read the few paragraphs that follow and think about them carefully.

Sin is disobedience to what God tells us to do in the Bible. Sin separates us from God and makes it impossible for us to have a relationship with God.

Do you admit that you have sinned? We all have.

Jesus is the answer to our problem of sin. He did everything necessary to restore our relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, died on the cross to pay for our sins, and came out of the grave alive. He did that for sinners like you and me.

Do you see that Jesus is the only answer to the problem of sin in your life?

You have to have a complete change of mind about your sin. Sometimes we are sorry for things we have done because they cause us trouble. But we need to go beyond that by being sorry for doing wrong; by turning, with God's help, away from wrongdoing; and by desiring to serve Jesus as Lord over our lives.

Are you willing to turn from whatever in your life is not pleasing to God?

Our relationship with God is restored when we trust in the Lord Jesus. Trust is not just superficial faith. True trust is relying on Jesus Christ alone for both eternal life and everyday life.

Do you want this now?

You can enter a new relationship with God by sincerely turning to God and praying a prayer like this: Lord God, I have sinned. I am sorry for my sins. With Your help I want to turn away from my sin. I have wanted my own way, not Yours. I have refused to give You thanks and praise for my life. I have not listened to You nor obeyed You. I turn from my sins and put my trust in the blood that Jesus shed on the cross to wash away my sin and guilt. I now receive Jesus as my Savior and the Lord of my life. With His help I want to obey Him in every part of my life. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

If you have turned to Christ and fully trust Him, then you have found the same eternal life that those two women found. Listen to what the Bible says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

What next? Find a church where they teach that Jesus is Lord and Savior. They will help you grow in your new life in Christ.