Reading
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him [Jesus] because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.
John 4:39-41 (NIV)
Reflection
One day, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at a well, and the conversation they have leaves a huge impact on the woman’s life. Right after their talk, the woman is asking (herself and others) the profound question, “He couldn’t be the messiah, could he?” Perhaps she even knows the question is rhetorical, because deep down, she knows that he is. She’d gone from being stuck on what was happening on the surface toward questioning things even deeper than the well by which she stood. But it was a process for her. In that conversation, she’d moved from considering only the literal to entertaining deeply soul-searching questions.
At one point in the conversation, she says to Jesus, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep.” Jesus had already told her that it was “living water” he was talking about. Yet, her concern about not having a bucket indicates that her mind hadn’t yet relinquished her grip on the literal enough to consider that Jesus was really talking about eternal and abundant life. It isn’t surprising that it took her a while to wrap her head around something that cut so deeply into the heart of her life. As they continued to talk, Jesus knew about things he clearly couldn’t have known except through spiritual knowledge. But perhaps even more fascinating and disarming to her was that he didn’t dismiss her because of what he knew.
As soon as the conversation between Jesus and the woman was finished, she went and talked to people about what had just happened. Perhaps she wanted to keep saying it out loud, so her mind could start to catch up with what her heart already knew. Or maybe by voicing such an assertion, it strengthened her belief in Jesus as the Christ. Or perhaps she had a burning desire to tell others about the way the man had so surprisingly accepted her and given her hope—and she wanted others to experience that same acceptance and hope. Or maybe it was all those things and more. One thing we do know is this: A woman who would have been considered very much an outsider (and who, by society’s rules, Jesus shouldn’t even be talking to) ends up being an evangelist for Jesus.
What a wonderful story about how a person’s life can change! When we meet the love of Jesus, face to face, it might take a while for us to think about, talk about, pray about, and even question what we’re going through. But deep down, we instinctively know when Jesus has cut right to what really matters in our life. It might alarm us, disarm us, and even leave us flabbergasted when we realize that Jesus knows everything about us—the good, the bad, the ugly, all of it. Nonetheless, Jesus desires nothing more than to offer us the living water of divine love. At first, we might try to use logic to dismiss such a paradigm-shifting notion (that someone who knows us completely could ever love us completely). But trying to puzzle out a mystery leads us nowhere. Instead, giving in and proclaiming that Jesus is the one who can save us—that he is the Messiah of OUR life, OUR heart, OUR soul—is what fills our bucket with the living water which transforms us. Our life can begin anew and with profound hope!
The story goes on to report that “many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him [Jesus] because of the woman’s testimony.” What a turnaround! A conversation which begins with Jesus asking for a drink of water ends up causing a woman to share her faith with others, leading them to be thirsty enough to go see for themselves and accept the living water Jesus offered!
Here’s a question for each of us to consider: If I’m willing to start a conversation with someone people might expect me to dismiss, what amazing things might happen that could change me, that other person, and perhaps even others?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, when I encounter someone who’s on the “outside” help me include them. Guide me in starting an authentic conversation with them. Let that process change me. Jesus, you know all about me and you love me. Help me love others the same way. Amen.
