June
8, 2020 Monday Message:
“The
Samaritan woman said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can
you ask me for a drink?’” John
4:9 NIV
Jesus,
a Rabbi, speaking directly with a woman? Unheard of! Furthermore, Jews and
Samaritans didn’t get along at all. This inherent hate was a ‘racial prejudice’
problem. Therefore they avoided any contact with each other. Example: To get
from Jerusalem to Galilee, Jews would routinely go west about 10 miles, travel
up the coast, and then back east about 5 miles rather than travel in a straight
line across Samaria, adding an extra day to their journey rather than meet a
Samaritan.
The
Jews claimed that they were racially ‘pure,’ while the Samaritans had
inter-married. Jews worshiped at the Temple in Jerusalem; Samaritans worshiped
at a mountain in their own land. In their minds, they couldn’t be more
different. (But – surprise - if you go back a few generations, they’re probably
cousins!)
Jesus
asks the Samaritan woman for a drink, and she explains how socially
unacceptable that would be since she is a Samaritan woman, and Jesus is a Jewish
Rabbi. But Jesus as much as says, “We’re not going to let that come between us,
are we? I could give you living water, and you would never thirst again!”
As
usual, Jesus had the right answer – the Samaritan woman just hadn’t asked the
right question yet. She’s trying: “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get
thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” But her question shouldn’t
have been about water. Her question should have been about forgiveness of sins and
eternal life in the presence of the Father.
Woman:
“I know that the Messiah, the Christ, is coming. When he comes, he will explain
everything to us.”
Jesus:
“I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
So
the woman brought the townspeople to meet Jesus, he stayed with the Samaritans
for two days, and because of his teaching many more became believers.
Nearly
two weeks later, the worldwide protests following the murder of George Floyd
have turned into demands for inclusion of people of all races, specifically
black people, and to put an end to excessive violence by our police. If the
‘Woman at the Well’ story is any clue, Jesus would have jumped right in the
middle of the fray and started teaching about the Kingdom, to ALL of God’s
people. If you’re sometimes unsure how to handle a situation, just ask
yourself, “What would Jesus do?” Then do that. It’s the right thing to do.
I’ll
be teaching in-depth about the parables in Luke 8:1-18 on our Facebook Live Stream
Wednesday 7pm. See you there!
God’s
blessings on you as we start this new week - xstay safe!
Norton
Lawellin, Worship Pastor
Jesus
in the City Fellowship.
3249
30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406
Monday
Message is also available at:
