This verse is very familiar with every Bible reader. Let us see what led to that citation as preserved in the archive of Creation.”Thus one day they came to a town and met a young woman who would not leave Jesus. Peter tried to turn her away, but she would not cease to plead. She wanted to speak to Jesus, alone and without witnesses. Eventually, Jesus perceived that something was going on behind Him; He heard the excited voice of the woman, and Peter’s brusque and abrupt language”.
” He halted and looked back; Peter came quickly towards Him”
“Lord, this woman will not give way, she wants to speak to you, tell her yourself that it is not possible! For ….”. he went quite close to Jesus, ” this woman is a harlot. A man from the town told me so.”
Jesus shook His head slightly, then beckoned the woman to approach. Peter stepped back in surprise.
“You wish to speak to me? Tell me what you want.”
“See how they all despise me, Lord! I cannot speak in their presence. Indeed they make it impossible for me to lead a different life again. They always remind me of my sin, and shun me wherever they see me. They take their children away when I walk in the street, and threaten to stone me.”
Jesus said nothing. He walked quietly on, and the woman remained by His side without any objection from Him.
They left the town, and still the woman walked by the side of the Lord. None of the disciples dared to voice any speculation. And hours went by.
Then Jesus halted.
“What do you hope from me, that you do not go home?”
“A word, Lord, that my guilt may be atoned for.”
“When I asked what you wanted you made accusations! You had nothing but complaints and Lamentations. That is why I could not help you. Now I will give you advice. … FROM PAST MILLENNIA: LIFE OF JESUS ON EARTH. p.277-278
He who has absorbed the spiritual values of this account will see clearly the various aspects of human weaknesses exhibited before Christ.
1. First His disciples. Peter passed judgment on the woman on human prejudice. Each one should search himself if he is not as guilty as Peter in our day to day relationship with our neighbors.
2. How many today does not act the way that woman acted. When given a rare opportunity to stand before the Lord, she was making accusations and lamentations, whereas the simple question Jesus asked of her was: ” Tell me what you want “. Is accusations the right attitude at that moment? Same today. We want God to destroy our perceived enemies first before He bless us. But here Jesus demonstrated without a single word that there is nothing we can gain if we petition God to destroy our enemies.
3. That woman recognized her fault and accepted she is a sinner, and what is more she sought ways to atone for it. And if we notice it she addressed Jesus as Lord. Is she not more matured spiritually than Ciaphas the chief priest at that time?
Again this woman devilled all human obstacles placed on her path. With unusual determination, she refused to be denied access to the Lord. I think that exemplary conduct is worthy of being emulated today. Because many will miss the Spirit of Truth, when His hour is come, because they have allowed opinions of men and indoctrination of religions to bar their way. Their Peter of today is religious views of men.
Therefore many will still argue that the account cited here did not tally with how it was rendered in the version of their Bible. They will always stick to the form instead of the substance!
