“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” – Mother Teresa
Not many people had the privilege of having one-to-one conversations or relationship with Jesus while He was here on earth. He had a lasting impression on those that did and some of them wondered if He was truly the Messiah because of His simplicity and humanity. He related well to human limitations and weaknesses, unlike the rabbis and teachers of His time. He was willing to go out of the ‘religious’ box, moving away from religious leaders and their ideologies towards people that had been alienated by life’s issues and disadvantages. Jesus saw that the current system (human culture and rules) had made the gospel of no effect in reaching people that truly needed to hear the good news.
At the time, Jesus’ fame was spreading across the region, He was emerging as a young prophet and respected leader, yet He was willing and humble enough to seek out a life to minister to. His ministry was built on an ’a life at a time’ strategy. This brought him great success as he reached not just one, but multitudes. At one time, after a series of ministerial and mission events recorded in the Gospel According to John, Chapter 4, the momentum was building up and you would expect Him to capitalise on it and do more meetings and healing rallies. Rather, he left town (or the city if you like) to return to his hometown with an unusual mission in mind – to reach another life, this time an unusual candidate. Many things ‘disqualified’ this candidate- her past, her status and her background – from having such free access to Jesus and have the longest conversation Jesus ever had with anyone. Also, she had been divorced five times and was living with another man she was not married to. Secondly, she was a Samaritan (a nation the Jews refused to have anything to do with). Thirdly, she was a woman (in those days, women were so disadvantaged; they were not seen to have the same rights as men).
This woman met a tired Jesus by a well at about noontime where He was waiting for His disciples who had gone to town to get food. Why would anyone come to fetch water at noontime? Most people fetched water at dawn. For the woman, could it be to avoid the embarrassment of people staring at her? There was no way you could divorce five times without the community people knowing you and your story. It was true then and it is still true now. The shame and humiliation could have been beyond her threshold. So, perhaps she snuck in and out of the well area when she needed water. Even though no further details were given in the bible regarding her broken marriages, I perceive she had probably believed earlier that being married would fill her emptiness, the yearning of her inner core. She may have defined her life by her mistakes and misjudgement.
One of the best gifts you can have in life is to have someone who will never shy away from having difficult and uncomfortable conversations with you about issues that you think about but are not bold enough to discuss or seek advice and counsel for. Jesus was not only a stranger to this lady, he was ready to listen to her frustration and inner desire to have a better life. He didn’t just want to talk about her issue but he talked to her about it and offered counsel and advice. He was not deceived by her front – the way it looked as if she had everything together. Great friends can see past your smart dress, makeup and smile.
Most (if not all) of Jesus’ conversations and encounters with people led to a changed life. Every conversation and parable he shared was aimed not only at informing but also at transforming lives by showing what was possible and available. This multiply-divorced lady was not an exception. After the encounter, she realised that what she wanted was not what she needed. Nothing could feel her emptiness but a personal relationship with Jesus. Apparently, she knew the truth but was not a doer of the truth for obvious reasons. Knowing the truth will not automatically change your life. Your change starts when you begin to do what the truth says regardless of how you feel about it. Being the doer of the word makes you a believer. Jesus exposed one of her reasons as being the limitation created by the religious ordinance regarding the place of worship. This introduced her to a shift and a more radical approach to order of worship. Jesus broke the segregation barrier, removed her limitation and watched her flourish. She became a mouthpiece for the good news. She went to invite the same people she had been avoiding previously because of her damaging past records in the town. She became the stone casted across the water, making many ripples.
Wherever you’re at in your journey in life, Jesus wants to have that difficult conversation with you and help you overcome what has held you back till now.
For further study, please see the Gospel According to John, Chapter 4: 1-42
