What Would Jesus Do?

A Parable by Jo Dora Webster

What if Jesus had met Tamar, a transwoman, as he walked the earth?

Walking down the street on the Sabbath in a small village near Jerusalem, Jesus saw a woman with a problem. Her mind and spirit were that of a woman, but her body looked like a man’s. She prettied and clothed herself as best she could. Her parents had finally come to their senses after many years of calling her Timon and accepted her as their daughter, Tamar. She saw that some of the men with Jesus were jeering and pointing at her. Tamar hoped for a better life, so she drew near to Jesus who showed kindness and love. She fell at Jesus feet and looked up at Him.

“Jesus, I am Tamar, and I was born with a problem. I wish to be made whole."

Thomas, who was the worst among the men with Jesus who pointed and jeered at Tamar had to get in the first word. He completely ignored her and spoke directly to Jesus,” Rabbi, who sinned: this woman or her parents, causing her to be born with this problem?”

Jesus taught, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what The One can do. We need to be energetically at work for The One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world's Light.”

Jesus took the hand of Tamar and lifted her to her feet. Gone was the look of a patient teacher that he had directed toward Thomas and all that Tamar could see in Jesus eyes was love for her. There were quite a few people gathering around to see what was going on and what Jesus would do with Tamar.

”Go, wash at the Pool of Siloam”

Tamar turned away and hurried to the Pool of Siloam. Their village was not too far from Siloam near Jerusalem. Tamar knew the way well since she washed there at night to hide her problem. She washed in the Pool of Siloam---and she was made whole. Tamar looked up to see her friend Leah holding out a towel which she took and wrapped around herself.

"Hosanna to The One! The power of The One set me free! My problem is gone! Hallelujah!"

“You are really no different from any other woman now, Tamar! It’s a miracle!”

“I’m whole! I want to thank the Rabbi for my healing. Thank you for bringing me the towel. Now I can bathe with all the other women!”

“Here are your clothes. I’ll leave you to get dressed. I can’t wait to spread your good news!”

As Tamar dried and dressed, she noticed that she possessed all those attributes that she had lacked before. She rejoiced that she would never have to go wash in the pool at midnight again. She stopped for a moment and looked at her reflection in the now still pool. She was now beautiful and possessed all those attributes that she had lacked before. The special undergarments she had worn were no longer necessary because she was whole.

Soon the town was buzzing. Tamar was accompanied by her friend Leah as they walked back for Tamar to thank Jesus. Ruth, an acquaintance of Leah’s caught up to them. Saul the Pharisee, seeing another chance to make a name for himself approached them, thriving on the controversy.

Leah was telling everyone about Tamar’s good news. Tamar’s relatives and those who had seen her only as a woman with a problem asked each other in whispers the same question. which Ruth spoke out loud.

Ruth spoke out loud the question that others whispered, "Why, isn't this Timon with the problem who called herself Tamar?"

Leah proclaimed,” It's her all right! My friend Tamar has been made whole! Not even Saul can deny that!”

Saul asserted,” It is not the same woman at all. She just looks like her.”

Tamar answered,” It's me, the very one.”

Saul asked,” How did you become whole?”

Tamar told him,” A man named Jesus told me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' I did what he said. When I washed, I was whole.”

Saul, looking for a bigger target, asked,” So where is he?”

Tamar timidly said, "I don't know.”

Saul saw this as the chance he had hoped for and seized Tamar. Tamar was disappointed that she would be delayed in thanking Jesus but Saul’s tight grip on her meant she had no choice now.

“This Jesus has broken the Sabbath again! The other Pharisees will want to question you. Come with me, Tamar!”

Saul marched Tamar to the Pharisees. Leah, Ruth and many of those around them went as well. The gathering quickly took on the atmosphere of a court with Caiaphas, presiding and of course Saul prosecuting. Nicodemus, who saw Jesus as a great teacher, was determined to interject any defense that he could for Tamar. Saul questioned Tamar before those assembled.

”Now Tamar, if that is really your name, answer truthfully before The One and this holy group of Pharisees. You claim that Jesus sent you to the Pool of Siloam. How did you come to be made whole on this Sabbath?”

Tamar meekly replied, "I washed, and now I am whole.”

Saul continued,” Obviously, this man, Jesus, can't be from The One. He doesn't keep the Sabbath.”

Nicodemus questioned, "How can a bad man do a miraculous, The One revealing thing like this?”

Nicodemus felt good about the question he asked. Saul afraid of losing the point started a shouting match with Nicodemus, recognizing that there was a split in their ranks.

Saul retorted, "Jesus is crazy, a maniac–out of his head completely!"

Nicodemus calmly replied, "Can a 'maniac' heal her problem?"

"Silence! I, Caiaphas, will deal with her! Tamar, you're the expert. He made you whole. What do you say about him?"

Tamar respectfully told him, "He is a prophet."

Saul yelled, “He’s not a prophet! I don’t believe you used to be Timon either! There are Timon’s parents, Joshua and Miriam, coming in right now. Let’s ask them!”

Joshua and Miriam, Tamar’s parents, were led before the assembly while Tamar was led to the side to wait. They were concerned for Tamar’s welfare and had heard the rumors that she had been made whole and they wanted to see for themselves. Her parents marveled that she had indeed had been made a whole woman now glowing in her femininity. Ruth and Leah stood in the crowd nearby, fearful for Tamar and hoping not to be caught up in the proceedings as well.

Caiaphas demanded, "Is this your daughter, the one you say was born with a problem? So how is it that she now is whole?”

Joshua answered for both him and Miriam, "We know she is our daughter, and we know she was born with a problem. But we don't know how she came to be made whole–haven't a clue about who made her whole. Why don't you ask her? She's a grown woman and can speak for herself.”

Leah could see Miriam trembling and was very proud of Tamar’s father, Joshua, as he answered Caiaphas . She leaned over and whispered an explanation to Ruth.

“Ruth, Joshua must have said that because he is intimidated by the Pharisees. They would kick them out of the meeting place if they claimed that Jesus is the Messiah. Who could deny that with Tamar being made whole?”

Disappointed that the only thing that Joshua had done was confirm Tamar’s identity, they let Joshua and Miriam go. They led Tamar back before them for a second time.

Saul hoping to save face started again,” Give credit to The One. We know this man is an impostor.”

Tamar spoke up, "I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I had a problem. Now I am whole.”

Once again Saul asked, "What did he do to you? How did he make you whole?”

With frustration Tamar said "I've told you over and over and you haven't listened. Why do you want to hear it again? Are you so eager to become his disciples?”

That was the last straw for Saul who was doing the questioning. Gone was any resemblance of decorum as he jumped all over her saying, "You might be a disciple of that man, but we're disciples of Moses. We know for sure that The One spoke to Moses, but we have no idea where this man even comes from.”

Tamar with courage proclaimed, "This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him, but the fact is, he made me whole! It's well known that The One isn't at the beck and call of sinners but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does His will. That someone made whole a woman born with a problem has never been heard of–ever. If this man didn't come from The One, he wouldn't be able to do anything.”

Saul said with bitterness, "You're nothing but dirt! How dare you take that tone with us!”

Saul himself took hold of her and threw her out in the street. Since she had showed him up good, he decided to follow her and see if he could find out something else to stir up trouble. Jesus had heard about the assembly and that she had been cast out of it so he went looking for her. When Jesus found Tamar, she was overjoyed that she could finally thank Him.

“Jesus, thank you! Now I am whole!”

Jesus asked her, "Do you believe in the Son of The One?

” Point him out to me, sir, so that I can believe in him.”

Jesus told her, "You're looking right at him. Don't you recognize me?”

” Master, I believe,”

Tamar had fallen at Jesus feet and worshiped him. Saul stood by and looked on with contempt.

Jesus seeing Saul addressed him, "I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind."

Saul with indignation replied, "Does that mean you're calling us blind?"

Jesus had the last statement, "If you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you're accountable for every fault and failure."

“Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.”

The Gospel According to John, Chapter 20, Verses 30 and 31, The Message

Author's Note

The parable “What Would Jesus Do?” is a recasting of the transwoman, Tamar for the blind man of The Message, John chapter nine. This parable tries to answer the question: "What would Jesus do if an encounter happened with a transwoman while traveling the Earth?" Please read the original story about the Jesus and the man born blind in The Message John chapter nine and make your own substitution. You will notice that the parable refers to the Supreme Being as The One in this parable.

In both cases they are born with congenital problems, and both have to deal with the consequences of receiving a miracle. Although The Message remains silent on Harry Benjamin Syndrome or Gender Expression, there are parallels which can be drawn to tell the story of the transwoman in the parable,” What Would Jesus Do?”