We all have a past
We all have a past. We all have stuff that we’re ashamed of. Our past is littered with regrets: words we wished we’d never said, decisions we wished we’d never taken. There are some things that no one else knows about us – deep, dark secrets that we’re terrified will one day be dragged out into the light for all to see.
We’re all only human, after all.
The problem is that when Jesus starts talking about a fabulous new kingdom filled with light and love and hope and compassion and justice, we can’t imagine how we could ever be worthy to enter such a place.
I’m just not good enough. I don’t belong there. If you all knew what I’ve done and thought, you’d never let me in.
The good news in today’s encounter with Jesus is that this woman had quite a past – loads of reasons why she didn’t deserve a place in this new kingdom – and yet Jesus
She was a Samaritan for a start. The Jews did not have a good relationship with the Samaritans – there was a lot of history that no one was prepared to let go of. That’s why she’s so surprised when Jesus asks her for a drink.
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to 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
There’s a challenge to us right there, did you spot it? It’s not all about us offering the help and hospitality all the time – sometimes we need to be prepared to accept help and hospitality from those we might consider ‘beneath us’ in some way. Just saying.
And she’s a woman. That’s not really the done thing either. When Jesus’ followers return, they’re surprised to see Jesus talking to a woman. But Jesus doesn’t care about convention. He’s not going to let this opportunity pass him by.
Jesus launches straight in to talking about living water. It’s all there in John 4. The woman doesn’t get it. Jesus is doing it again. He’s taking an everyday occurrence and giving it a spiritual twist – just like that whole ‘born again’ conversation yesterday.
‘Sir,’ the woman said, ‘you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?’ John 4:11
This living water is different to any water that has ever existed before. This is life-giving water. When you drink it, you’ll never be thirsty again. You will be satisfied (imagine that in this society where we are never satisfied, where we’re always striving for new things and experiences to make us happy and fulfilled). This new life will bubble up from within and overflow out from you for ever and ever and ever.
The woman wants in. Of course she does. Who wouldn’t? But then come THE most awkward of conversations.
The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.’
He told her, ‘Go, call your husband and come back.’
‘I have no husband,’ she replied.
Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.’ John 4:15-18
Jesus knows it all. There’s nothing that we can hide from him. The next bit makes me smile. It’s as if the woman is trying to deflect the conversation away from her personal life to point out the differences between the Jews and the Samaritans.
You told us we could only worship in Jerusalem.
It’s almost as if it’s an excuse for her behaviour.
And then there’s this.
The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah’ (called Christ) ‘is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’
Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you – I am he.’ John 4:25-26
I love this. Imagine hearing these words spoken directly to you while you’re simply going about your daily life! It’s mind-blowing stuff! God is there in human form standing right before her! Jesus’ knows all about this woman’s past and behaviour but that’s of no consequence to him at all. When he came to declare that this kingdom was available for all, he meant it!
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I’ve ever done.’ 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
Believe. There’s that word again. That’s the only thing any of them/us have to do. Simply believe. Not look on and say ‘Oh that’s interesting. Yes, I can see how that’s working out well for you, but I’m not sure it’s for me.’
So ditch the reasons/excuses/concerns. Don’t ever try to tell me that you’re not good enough to be a part of this incredible kingdom. If the Samaritan woman can, anyone can. I believe this is exactly why this encounter with Jesus follows immediately after Nicodemus’ secret meeting with Jesus in John 3. Nicodemus had it all; he knew it all; he ticked all the boxes. Most of us aren’t like Nicodemus. Jesus came for the likes of Nicodemus but also for the outsiders, those who’d made some really dodgy decisions in their lives, the foreigners, the women, the ‘least of these’.
People like you and me.
Jesus knows everything we’ve ever done. Get over it. Don’t let your past define you or hold you back from entering into the most life-giving adventure known to humankind.
