She was part of a “professional” culture of women.
“Sinners” they were called, even by their clientele. Significantly, she saw herself
the same way. More importantly, her sin and her culture had become burdensome.
This would have made her a misfit, especially if she talked
about it. The last thing movers-and-shakers of any sin culture want is a
disenchanted talker. They can be pretty unpleasant to those who want out.
I think she met someone who had met Jesus. Perhaps it was another
disenchanted woman. We know, by the time we meet her, she already knew about him.
Like a crush-smitten schoolgirl, she may have dreamed of
meeting a for-real, authentically good man. I can imagine her fantasizing about
it and struggling to clean up her life, just in case? However, that would have
led to despair. Her conscience, to say nothing of her friends, would assure her
that the likes of him would not be impressed with the likes of her.
She must have asked questions. Somehow she learned Jesus
was not about being impressed. He was about change through forgiveness received
by faith?
WHOA! This man who does not endorse sin can FORGIVE sin!?
My
sin!?
With this prospect, she sold the farm.
It would be Jesus or
nothing.
Perhaps she was enough of a theologian to guess he would know…somehow…that
she had put the well being of her soul in his care.
Forgiven! The hope would give her courage to break with her
culture and do battle with her embedded orientations. She could do that ... for
him.
It would not be easy. Along with the scorn of her companions
in sin, there was the matter of marketable skills. The only possibility may
have been a religious leader in the neighborhood who may have put out an ad for a
servant.
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