He loved her anyway
(This week we are looking at Evangelistic Approaches: How did Jesus, Philip and Paul treat people?)
The humanity of Christ is evident in the request when Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink. He was tired and thirsty. He needed to rest. Jesus walked through Samaria because he had a divine appointment with a woman he knew before he even met her. Jesus knew that she would collect water in the heat of the day to avoid the other women in the community because of her reputation. Jesus crossed social and racial barriers by asking the woman for a drink. He did this because he knew that she was being shunned by others and he wanted her to know that He loved her anyway. His actions demonstrate Micah 6:8 "and what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Jesus went where the need was the greatest. The woman felt that she was not worthy of the love of her neighbours. Jesus knew this and he loved her anyway.
The woman was shocked that a Jewish male spoke to her, a Samaritan woman. Jesus offered her the gift of living water and she was eager to receive this gift. Jesus tested her by asking her about her husband. She was honest and transparent. She responded that she did not have a husband. Jesus revealed that he knew everything about her including her history with men. Jesus loved her anyway.
The Samaritan woman had three strikes against her above and beyond being a woman. She was a Samaritan, a half-breed race despised by Jews of good standing, known to be living in sin, and this was a public place --- a town centre. A respectable Jewish male would NEVER talk to a woman under these circumstances. Jesus loved her anyway.
The disciples were surprised that Jesus was talking to a woman but did not dare ask why he was talking to her. The woman left her water jar and ran to tell those who despised her about the gift of eternal life. She posed the question: Could this be the Christ? Jesus in the meantime entered into a serious discussion with the disciples about the food he has that they do not know about, revealing his deity in the responses to the disciples that His food is to do the will of the father.
Because Jesus loved the woman anyway, many Samaritans believed. Her testimony was powerful and convincing.
By the power of God's Living Water flowing through us we are able to go out of our way to do the will of the father and reach those who are seen as unclean and shunned by society. May we love them anyway.
| Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John--- 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a]) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." 11 "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?" 13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." 16 He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." 17 "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." 19 "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." 21 "Woman," Jesus replied, "believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." 25 The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." 26 Then Jesus declared, "I, the one speaking to you---I am he." 27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" (John4:4-27) |
Natalie Angela Barnard – mother to Christian Rolf and Natascha Gaby. Mother-in-law to Angela and Grandmother to Isabella Grace, loves the outdoor lifestyle, serving God at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in the City of Cape Town and as moderator at the Presbytery of the Western Cape.
