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I
pray that tonight’s sermon will leave you wanting more
rather than less. For time is short for this service, and so
then will be this sermon. Therefore, I will get right into
John’s account of Jesus and the woman at the well.
There
are a few things that should be emphasized. First, we read
that Jesus had to go through Samaria. Now, we don’t know why
he had to, except that this ministry stop was on his agenda
from his Heavenly Father.
Second,
the woman at the well went to draw water at the sixth hour of
the day. That is noon. Since it gets pretty hot in the desert,
most people never draw water at noon. But this woman did, for
reasons we can only speculate. Biblical commentators and
seminary professors told me during my theological education
that it was because she was ashamed of her life, knowing she
had had several husbands and that she was not married to the
man with whom she was currently living. People in her village
knew of her, and she did not want to encounter more people
than she had to.
Finally,
there were religious and social norms that Jesus ventured over
and through. As you know, Jesus was a Jew.
The woman at the well was a Samaritan. What’s the big
deal? There were major religious barriers during Jesus’
time. It was not only that Samaritans and Jews were forbidden
to associate, but also that men and women were not to
associate in public so as to avoid defilement. Almost like
ancient cooties. It should be emphasized that the Jews upheld
these laws and religious practices. Therefore Jesus, a Jew,
was not supposed to associate with the Samaritan woman. We
know well that Jesus was popular and unpopular for dismissing
the law when it did not follow in step with loving God and
loving others.
The
Samaritan woman thinks she’s going to be alone to get her
much-needed water. But Jesus is hanging out at the well. He
speaks to her and asks for a drink of water. Now, though Jesus
may have been thirsty, he did not ask for a drink of water
solely to quench his thirst and go on his way. Jesus always
had a reason for everything he did. If you read the portion of
scripture in the middle of the story when the disciples come
back with lunch, Jesus said he was not hungry since his food
was to do the will of his Heavenly Father. It must have been
similar with the water, for he had a well of living water to
sustain him.
Now,
returning to the well, the woman snaps back at Jesus’
request for a drink by reminding Jesus about the Jewish laws
and how he was out of line. Jesus knows where the conversation
will go and carries on with no offense taken. Not only does he
tell her that he has living water that will be like a spring
of water welling up to eternal life (which goes right over her
head), but that he is the Messiah, the Christ. That is a major
statement that could have shocked the woman into laughter and
total disbelief. But since Jesus revealed things about her
that he could not have known, she believed that he could be
the Messiah. She was so excited, she even left her water jar.
Meanwhile,
the disciples met up with Jesus with lunch. Jesus was not
ready to sit and have a meal. For lo and behold, the Samaritan
woman brought everyone from her town who was willing to come
and see the man who told her everything she did. When the
townspeople actually saw Jesus, they were beside themselves
and asked him to stay with them as their guest. The Samaritan
woman, who was avoiding the townspeople, became a public
announcer and important instrument among them for Jesus and
the Good News.
When
was the last time you went out to get water from a well?
I’ve only done it once in my life at some school field trip
to a farm, and I didn’t drink the water. But let’s think
about times or circumstances in our lives when we’d rather
get our “water” alone and away from anyone to encounter.
It does not matter what the “water” is. What matters is
that we go to get it, and sometimes we don’t want to be
bothered. The “water” is something we are seeking without
God. That “water” you are fetching may even be something that
Jesus wants you to do, as he pleases. Maybe Jesus really wants
nothing from you so much as wanting a closer relationship with
you. Jesus focuses on meeting you through the “water.”
Are
there places where you may be missing the presence and work of
Jesus in your life? Maybe you’re even ignoring him. Jesus
told us that he is always with us. Depending on where you are
and what you are doing, that could either be very comforting
or very discomforting. But Jesus is not uncomfortable, not one
bit.
Is
your first thought, “Jesus, I’m busy, aren’t I supposed
to meet you either at church or when I call?” Or, “Jesus,
you’re not supposed to associate with me until I’m in the
right place and at the right time.” You may even say to
yourself, “I need some alone time.” Whether at work, at
play, or anywhere else, Jesus wants us to be filled with his
life-giving spirit that wells up in us and overflows to those
around us. Christ tells us that he has what we need to sustain
us in everything we do. Jesus is not saying we are to stop
drinking the “water,” but rather, to find the life-giving
water that cannot be found in a well on earth, only in him.
As
with the Samaritan woman, we may feel that though we know
about Jesus, but we may not really experience his presence in
our daily lives. There are several reasons we don’t or
choose not to experience Jesus’ presence in our lives.
We’re too busy. I know what that can be like.
We’re at places in our lives that, in our minds,
Jesus is not invited. Or we just plain forget.
Whatever the reason, one question remains. Am I loved?
Our
lives are to be living sacrifices so that in everything we do;
we do it unto the Lord. Remember
when the Samaritan woman said that her people do not know who
they worship, that there is only one place to worship, and
that they are not allowed to go there? Jesus told her that the true worshippers God seeks are the
ones who worship in spirit and truth.
That is, we worship with the spirit of God and the
living truth of Christ Jesus in us.
We
may not see that we are worshipping God in everyday
activities, in all our relationships with family, friends, and
even our enemies. We may wonder if it is even possible to
worship God when we are at work, at home, at school, or places
other than a church or place of worship. Jesus tells us that
our lives are spiritual acts of worship that testify to
everyone that we are loved. That is one major part of the
Samaritan woman’s testimony that shocks the townspeople. For
if the Messiah had come, he had come and spoken to a female
Samaritan who had a lifestyle that even she was ashamed of.
What does this tell her family, friends, and even enemies? Her
witness tells them that she is loved for who she is. For what
God calls us to do and be is something we strive for and
continue to grow in as Christians, a life full of God’s love
and presence.
The
Samaritan woman and the townspeople experienced his acceptance
and awesome presence, and they wanted Jesus to stay longer.
How do you think your life would change if you began to
realize how much you are loved and that experiencing a
fellowship with God is ongoing and forever? How would the way
you live be affected if you began to realize every aspect of
your life is to be lived with the goal of loving and
worshipping God with your all? Your life does reflect what you
are consumed with. A life that is consumed with God is one
that reflects God’s love though acts of compassion, mercy,
justice, forgiveness and love. A life consumed with self is
practically the opposite.
God
wants you to draw closer through spiritual disciplines such as
prayer, scripture reading and a life full of kindness,
compassion, mercy and acts of justice. In so doing, your life
will be a testimony to others of his love for you.
I
have heard about, read of, and even witnessed people who lived
a life that basically could not answer the question, “Am I
loved?” Their lives were filled with a fair share of
happiness and sadness, good times and bad, and other such
things that happen in life that you and I also experience. But
with a razor sharp cut, the question that plagued their lives
that was left unanswered drove them to different degrees of
self-destructive behaviors that in turn hurt others.
Think
about Jesus being at the places in your life where you feel
left alone, where you’d rather be left alone, and where you
don’t think Jesus would be. You may have places in your life
that you are alone because if others knew, it could be a
social taboo, like Jews and Samaritans meeting. But Jesus
doesn’t care about the social taboos as much as he cares
about you, seeking you out where you are and wanting you to
discover that you are loved. Think about what Jesus may be
offering you in those places and times where he can give you
some source of “water” to quench a thirst that you never
thought you’d find.
You
may interpret Jesus’ presence as rude or even intrusive in
some areas of your life. You may say he is the Lord of your
life, but when it comes to some areas of your life, it may be
otherwise. Do you
believe that being an individual and your own person is more
fulfilling than the life-giving presence of Jesus in all areas
of your life? And do you venture to say that Jesus does not
love you because you cannot do what you want?
In
reality, you are able to do whatever you want. God’s love
for us is amazing, and sometimes confusing. Though God loves
us with sweat and blood, even to the point of dying on a
cross, seeking to save us so that we may live holy lives that
seek God’s kingdom and righteousness, he also loves us
enough to allow us free will. Free will and, as Christians,
grace are abundant as sin is abundant, is wonderful. The grace
and forgiveness given to us freely was obtained through such a
great cost which should lead us to live for God with our
utmost highest effort, not with forgetfulness and even abuse,
excusing sin because God’s grace and forgiveness is so
abundant.
God
does not break the bruised reed. God is the heavenly parent
that provides and offers with gentle, yet firm, promptings and
direction to draw you closer and to empower you to live a life
worthy of God’s calling. May your life testify to others
with a joyful ‘Yes!’ to the question, Am I loved?
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