God is love - a Lenten series 27 Love does not exploit

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In John ch. 4 we learn a story about Jesus meeting an ostracized woman who was alone at the community well. They have a conversation about water, religion, and her background of having multiple husbands and currently living with the 6th man in her life.

There are many beautiful theological nuggets in this story, but there is also theological actions of note as well.

1. He crossed gender norms to speak with her.
2. He crossed religious norms to speak with her.
3. He did not exploit the opportunity to harm her.

The last one may come across as slightly odd. Why would we expect Jesus to take the opportunity to exploit a woman while he was alone with her, someone who did not have a reputation to defend her if she were assaulted, having been with six different men over the years.

There is another reason to not expect this behavior from Jesus. His own mother faced accusations of her own, while pregnant and unwed. Those accusations are still flung at her, raped by a Roman soldier or slept around. His dad, Joseph, faced accusations as well. Why was he marrying that girl? Did he knock her up? We learn in another gospel they lived in Egypt for a few years after Jesus' birth then moved back to Israel, but in another town for a fresh start.

Jesus could be trusted alone with a woman. Love does not exploit.

Unfortunately, the church's leaders throughout it's history are not known for the same thing. Women and children suffer under the patriarchal leadership. Perhaps it is time for men to step down and for women to lead Christ's flock.