'I don't have a husband,' she answered.
'You have correctly said, 'I don't have a husband,' Jesus said. 'For you've had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.'
'Sir,' the woman said. 'I see you are a prophet'" (John 4:16-19, NASB).
Jesus showed He cared for this woman by taking time to listen to her. He built openness and trust out of this care. At this point in the story, she didn't quite see yet that He was the Messiah. Yet, He was taking note of who she was individually and then addressed her needs.
In the movie, The Blind Side, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy showed concern for a high-school aged boy, Micahel Oher. The movie is based on a true story and the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis. This couple "went big" as they showed concern for Oher, offering kindness to him, seeing potential in him and later adopting him. In the movie, Leigh Anne pointed out that Oher was teaching her, and you can see how this couple acted with sincere hearts and a cheerful spirit. The couple even wrote a book together, In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving. Oher went on to be an Ole Miss student and football player, and recently won Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens (more at www.nydailynews.com).
A need may not be physical, but showing someone you care by listening to them and showing concern can go a long way. It contributes to building a genuine relationship. Concern can display the love that we can have because of what Jesus has shown us and because of the Holy Spirit who transforms the lives of believers.
Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo courtesy of Gotham Books, found in the photo gallery, "Michael Oher - Beating the Odds" at www.commercialappeal.com.
