The Girl Who Had a Crush on Jesus

I sometimes wonder what Jesus's life was like when he was in his teens and 20s. The Bible sort of skips that whole part of his life. I mean, they do mention the part where he gets left at the temple by Joseph and Mary when he's like 12 and he's being "about his Father's business," but that's about it. The Bible does say too that he was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," so, I like to think that maybe he had to fend off a girl or two.

I just like to imagine a pretty little Jewish girl who lived around the corner from Joseph's carpenter shop. Sometimes she'd find any excuse to come over and help Mary with the kids, or borrow a ephah of flour or something to make the daily bread. Meanwhile, she'd steal glances of Jesus out back, hammering away at a plank of wood.

Of course, being God, Jesus knew this would happen, and he's doing his best to keep his 19-year-old humanness in check. Hadassah is a sweet, pretty 17-year-old girl. Her intentions are innocent, but he knows he has to break it to her: it would never work.

Hauling a fresh supply of lumber on his way home one day, he runs into her.

"Shalom, Jesus!" she calls, her eyes shining with longing.

"Shalom, Hadassah," he replies, and continues walking toward the house.

"Uh, Jesus . . . " She lightly touches him on the arm, and he sets his bundle down and turns toward her.

"Yes?" He's trying to be . . . God-like about this whole thing. He can't let her break him down. He has to somehow get her to understand . . .

"I was wondering if you'd like to--take a walk with me after the evening meal tonight."

"Sorry, Hadassah, I can't. I still have a lot to do with Father at the shop. Not a good idea tonight."

"Tomorrow night then?" It took a lot for her to approach him this way. She was afraid he'd think she was being too forward, but since he's always so busy, how else would she ever get a chance to spend time with him?

"Hadassah, it's probably not a good idea . . . ever." He hated to do this. He hated to see her beautiful eyes fill up with tears, see the hurt look on her face. But it was the only way.

"Jesus, I don't understand, I--do you find me so--so unappealing?" Her lip quivers. Tears run down her lovely face.

"No, it's not that at all," he sighs. He runs his hands over his curly mop of hair. He looks at her at that moment in much the same way his disciples and other followers would later describe that he looked upon those by whom his heart was moved with compassion. He gently wipes the tears from her cheeks. "You must understand, " he continues. "I'm not--like other guys." He smiles inwardly as he reads her thoughts: But that's why I like you so much. "Please understand. I think you are a very beautiful young lady, and you will make a fine wife to a deserving man one day." I could tell you his name and your wedding date, if you wanted, he thinks to himself. "But believe me when I say that I am not the one."

"But Jesus, I--" she begins, but his intense look silences her. She doesn't know why, but she believes him. She already knew there was something different about him, but she now realizes this "difference" is something beyond understanding.

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy strength, and with all thy might," he says. Then he picks up his bundle and turns to go. She stares after him, transfixed, as he walks down the road to his house. Yes, the love in my heart for Adonai must be greater than the love in my heart for any man, she says inwardly. Little did she know that Jesus and Adonai were one and the same.