I am so tired I just have to sit down. Can you get me a drink?
Thirsty and hungry business
The scene is set for an intimate conversation, one with intrigue and some playful misinterpretations that lead to a drum roll finish. We are talking thirsty and hungry business here, a travelling missionary, one woman, and a band of obtuse kitten like minstrels who have yet to open their eyes to the astounding reality they are living. We also have some scoundrels, who go sniffing around to see what dirt they can dig up about some guy, who is gaining too much popularity. This is where our story begins.
A turf war that God refuses to fight, just walk away
"The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee" (John 4:1-3). We have here the beginnings of a turf war. The Pharisees saw a rival in this guy Jesus and a reconnaissance crew was sent out to eye spy what the damage to their territory might be. Underestimating the oppositions leader is always a sign of character flaw and poor judgment, because we all know that when what we have is replaceable by something far Superior to what we have ever experienced before, changing teams is not even a consideration! Alas, the crass crew of self-righteous and hypocritical Pharisee's did not see the writing on the wall, or should I say, the waves on the water? Regardless, Jesus didn't have time for their nonsense. He had work to do and I picture him brushing the dust off his heels, turning his back and going where his Father sent him, to meet a woman, at a well...
Jacobs well and a tired thirsty Jesus
"Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour" (John 4:4-6). It was high noon, Jesus was tired and sat down dear reader! This addition to the story made me glad. Jesus is God in the flesh. He is a working man. He walked and walked some more and he got tired and thirsty and hungry too, just like us. A man on a mission is like this: when our work is important, we just can't stop sometimes, isn't that right dear one? Jesus demonstrates that to sit, to rest, to replenish is important. While this is a wonderful part in the story, and you may want to sit a while with your coffee and savour the moment, the story gets richer and deeper. Come with me to see what happens next.
A request for a drink of water
"When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman answered 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.) (John 4:7-9). Here, right here is where our ears get to perk up and our eyes open wider in anticipation. She hasn't a clue what is coming and the thrill is ours as we watch closely to see the unfolding of the plot line as revealed by the Author of life.
Unwrap the gift and drink deeply
Jesus' answer "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." "Sir, " the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get living water?" (John 4:10-12). Grin. Hints are being dropped with foreshadowing building our excitement. This is the beginning of an astounding exchange between the woman at the well and the Godhead she sees simply as a man to have a semantics agruement with. I urge you to go to the book of John to read the full account of this conversation (let's be brief here, you don't have all day to read this... you too have work to do!).
I skip to this mind blowing reveal, drum roll please:
The woman said, "I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he" (John 4:25-26). Jesus shares with a woman that he is the Messiah, the Christ, the anticipated and hoped for Saviour of the world! This life altering truth (along with Jesus being able to tell the woman that he knows what her whole life has looked like prior to them ever having met at the well) has the woman running into town and declaring "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Meanwhile his disciples urged him to eat something. But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" (John 4:29-33).
The plot is complete
A woman, a well, confused disciples. A man who is God, some guys who don't like being challenged and pushed out of their place of power. A town full of people rushing to meet the Messiah... Living Water, Bread of Life. How is any of it different from our today dear one? Who are you in this story? You have before you many role options, except for One. Do you vie for his spot? Do you stir up dissension against him? Do you converse with him and recognize who he is and run into town to share The Good News? Is this just a story to you? He knows everything you ever did... how about that? How about that?
Thirsty and hungry business
The scene is set for an intimate conversation, one with intrigue and some playful misinterpretations that lead to a drum roll finish. We are talking thirsty and hungry business here, a travelling missionary, one woman, and a band of obtuse kitten like minstrels who have yet to open their eyes to the astounding reality they are living. We also have some scoundrels, who go sniffing around to see what dirt they can dig up about some guy, who is gaining too much popularity. This is where our story begins.
A turf war that God refuses to fight, just walk away
"The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee" (John 4:1-3). We have here the beginnings of a turf war. The Pharisees saw a rival in this guy Jesus and a reconnaissance crew was sent out to eye spy what the damage to their territory might be. Underestimating the oppositions leader is always a sign of character flaw and poor judgment, because we all know that when what we have is replaceable by something far Superior to what we have ever experienced before, changing teams is not even a consideration! Alas, the crass crew of self-righteous and hypocritical Pharisee's did not see the writing on the wall, or should I say, the waves on the water? Regardless, Jesus didn't have time for their nonsense. He had work to do and I picture him brushing the dust off his heels, turning his back and going where his Father sent him, to meet a woman, at a well...
Jacobs well and a tired thirsty Jesus
"Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour" (John 4:4-6). It was high noon, Jesus was tired and sat down dear reader! This addition to the story made me glad. Jesus is God in the flesh. He is a working man. He walked and walked some more and he got tired and thirsty and hungry too, just like us. A man on a mission is like this: when our work is important, we just can't stop sometimes, isn't that right dear one? Jesus demonstrates that to sit, to rest, to replenish is important. While this is a wonderful part in the story, and you may want to sit a while with your coffee and savour the moment, the story gets richer and deeper. Come with me to see what happens next.
A request for a drink of water
"When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman answered 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.) (John 4:7-9). Here, right here is where our ears get to perk up and our eyes open wider in anticipation. She hasn't a clue what is coming and the thrill is ours as we watch closely to see the unfolding of the plot line as revealed by the Author of life.
Unwrap the gift and drink deeply
Jesus' answer "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." "Sir, " the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get living water?" (John 4:10-12). Grin. Hints are being dropped with foreshadowing building our excitement. This is the beginning of an astounding exchange between the woman at the well and the Godhead she sees simply as a man to have a semantics agruement with. I urge you to go to the book of John to read the full account of this conversation (let's be brief here, you don't have all day to read this... you too have work to do!).I skip to this mind blowing reveal, drum roll please:
The woman said, "I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he" (John 4:25-26). Jesus shares with a woman that he is the Messiah, the Christ, the anticipated and hoped for Saviour of the world! This life altering truth (along with Jesus being able to tell the woman that he knows what her whole life has looked like prior to them ever having met at the well) has the woman running into town and declaring "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Meanwhile his disciples urged him to eat something. But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" (John 4:29-33).
The plot is complete
A woman, a well, confused disciples. A man who is God, some guys who don't like being challenged and pushed out of their place of power. A town full of people rushing to meet the Messiah... Living Water, Bread of Life. How is any of it different from our today dear one? Who are you in this story? You have before you many role options, except for One. Do you vie for his spot? Do you stir up dissension against him? Do you converse with him and recognize who he is and run into town to share The Good News? Is this just a story to you? He knows everything you ever did... how about that? How about that?
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