“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Unless you have studied the backgrounds of this passage, you will miss the significance of this moment. Jesus strategically chose this spot— at that specific time.
Caesarea Philippi, stood in a lush area near the foot of Mount Hermon and was a city dominated by extremely immoral and sexually perverse activities as a part of pagan worship.
According to Scholar Dr. Michael Heiser, “this region in the Old Testament was known as Bashan—a place with a sinister reputation. Bashan was controlled by two kings—Sihon and Og—who were associated with the ancient giant clans: the Rephaim and the Anakim (Deut 2:10–12; Josh 12:1–5). They believed that these cities were the entryway to the Underworld—the gates of Sheol”.
Years later, the Greeks under Alexander the Great had conquered the area. Greek temples were built here to worship the god Pan, which included strange sexual acts with goats. Pan was the god of the goats and his pipe music would entice the goats to dance, and make their fertility assured (he is also linked to sex, lust, and bestiality).
After Rome conquered the area, Herod Philip rebuilt the city—naming it Caesarea Philippi—continuing the worship of Greek gods.
For Jesus’ disciples, this was an evil—otherworldly place. According to Jewish tradition, Mount Hermon was the place where the divine sons (or Nephilim) of God had descended from heaven—ultimately corrupting humankind by their offspring with human women (Gen 6:1–4).
Overlooking the pagan temples of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples “Who do you say that I am?” Peter declares, “You are the Son of the living God.” This proclamation was a vivid contrast between the true God Jesus and the false gods of the pagans. Then Jesus throws down the gauntlet —
“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it”.
The rock Jesus was referring to —was not Peter or Himself. He was talking about the rock that they were standing on —at the foot of Mount Hermon. This was the demonic headquarters of the Old Testament and the Greek world! The very “Gates of Hell”!
This verse has been so misunderstood over the years! Because of a mistranslation— the meaning is changed. The word translated “against” does not exist in greek. The word should be “withstand”. Did you see that? This shifts the Church from a defensive position to an offensive position!
Jesus stood at the very gates of hell and declared war on evil and death! He said that we the Church— were to overcome the gates of hell!
In these days where the demonic spirits of fear, hatred and rebellion are advancing, it is time for the Church to come out of hiding! To rise up against evil—- against lawlessness— against hatred! Our neighborhoods— cities and workplaces need the gospel of King Jesus! We already have our marching orders and our assignment! According to Jesus, we can’t lose!
As the apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”
And in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God…”
To better understand people, we need to hear their “back-story”— it is the same with God and his story. The bible is God’s revelation of himself and his attributes through his interactions with his people.
My passion to understand the background of the Old Testament (OT) started about fifteen years ago when Bible teacher Ray VanderLaan came to speak at our church. There were many passages in the Old Testament that seemed confusing to me— almost as if I were watching a movie half way through. VanderLaan’s teaching opened the scriptures to me in 3-D and helped me to see the whole story! My pursuit for deeper understanding continued after sitting in a Sunday school class on Genesis with Dr. John Walton who started each class by saying, “remember, the Bible is written for us, but not to us”.
It became clear to me that if we do not seek to understand the backdrop of the ancient worldview of the OT, we will distort the text with presuppositions from our own worldview and cultures. We tend to assume that other societies are just like our own and need to set aside our worldview to make room in our minds for how Israel would have understood the text. If we don’t make this room—we will fill in the gaps with our own modern culture and cognitive environment.
Though I agree with Dr. Walton’s comment, “there are frequent occasions in which the meaning of the text will not be immediately transparent to us…[Comparative studies] may then be necessary in order to discern the meaning of the text.” (pg. 39-40), I feel it is important that we do not canonize the culture of Israel. We must instead understand that God used it as a vehicle to communicate the message of the truth of his character and his plan for humanity. Richter writes, “if we are going to understand the content of redemptive history…we will need to understand the vehicle (i.e., the culture) through which it was communicated” (pg. 23).
Dr. Richter perfectly states it: “our objective as Christians is to understand the story of redemption, the Bible. More than anything else we want to hear the words of the Biblical writers as they were intended and claim there epic saga as our own. To accomplish this, we need to get past the great barrier—that chasm of history, language and culture that separates us from the heroes of our faith” (pg. 15)
Some of the vital differences in culture of the Ancient Near East (ANE) that we need to be aware of in our understanding of the text include aspects such as identity—in our modern culture we think of identity in a very individualistic way but people of the ANE thought in terms of clans or tribal identity. Even institutions such as marriage were different as well as the concepts of Kingship, worship and law.
Study of the background of the ANE gives us a window into how Israel may have been thinking as they heard the scriptures. Comparing some of the ANE texts can also help us fill in the gaps of the perceptions of the Israelites and how they may have been influenced by these myths from the world around them.
One example Walton gives in his Seedbed Video teaching “What is the ANE?” regards this passage from Joshua 10:
12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord on the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, be silent and stand still at Gibeon, and you, moon, in the Valley of Ajalon!
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation took vengeance upon their enemies. Is not this written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.
14 There was no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man. For the Lord fought for Israel.
Walton makes the observation that this text is not talking about physics since they did not even think the sun and moon were objects— (they perceived them as lights), but that perhaps Joshua knows the myths and superstitions of his enemy and that they engage in the practice of celestial divination. Joshua knows his enemy will perceive that sun and
moon standing still as a dark omen. As we can see— the theology of the text does not change with this insight—God is still glorified as verse 14 states “For the Lord fought for Israel”.
The use of background studies should be used to deepen our understanding of and confidence in the biblical text, not undermine or discredit it. Background studies can help us consider the genre of the text in order to perceive the author’s intent. Comprehending the author’s intent— what he is trying to say and how will the audience perceive it—is also an essential ingredient in interpreting the text theologically.
Background studies can illuminate the text but at the end of the day—God has inspired scripture in a way that we can have basic understanding of the theology of the Bible without further background study. But as we have also seen, the use of background context studies does indeed enhance our understanding of the Bible and of who God is and the way he designed us to live.
In closing, we can see in the biblical text that God often uses the literary styles of the culture to contextualize his revelation of who he is and his epic story of redemption. Dr. Scott Moreau defines contextualization as “the art of translating ideas into a particular situation, place or culture” (Moreau pg. 19). Through understanding the ways God used their context to communicate—we can better understand what he is saying to us as well. I do feel background studies are important to understanding the Bible, but with the help of
the Holy Spirit—the basic theological truths of who God is and his story of redemption stands for itself without further background knowledge.
We usually hear this passage quoted out of context. People love to quote the first part of verse 11 like this… “ they overcame him because of the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony”
In the original Greek— the whole verse-and thought—contains the Greek word Kai 3 times— not 2. It is a conjunction that means (and). The last part of the verse is usually cut off because it makes us uncomfortable. But we are missing an important part of the context. Here is the part that is usually left out:
“and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”
The truth in context is responding not only to the physical threats of Satan in the previous verses—- but the fact that in Christ we have died to our “old self”. If we stay in the truth of our new identity— born again and alive in Christ- eternally (by our testimony of and conviction to salvation through the blood of the Lamb), it cancels every accusation of the enemy.
Therefore, even the penalty of sin — death— has already been defeated— along with the fear of death. This empowers us to stand for and in Christ in the face of death for the sake of His name. There is so much more—
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.
(And) they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb (and) because of the word of their testimony, (and) they did not love their life even when faced with death.” Revelation 12:10-11 NASB
(Scripture emphasis is my own, photo from one of my trips to Israel — Aquaducts of Caesarea Maritima)
I have wrestled in prayer these last few days— heart breaking as tears traced my cheeks. My guts churned in horror as I watched the video of a black man suffocated on the street at the knee of a wicked hate filled white man in a police uniform. To see the pain, death and destruction from evil prejudice, racism, violent riots and lawlessness– is just overwhelming.
The real issue swirling around us is not just racism, but sin. Sin is the issue. Disgusting racism, brutality, and injustice are the fruit of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. This demonic rot spreads and feeds on selfishness and pride. Sin entered humanity when Eve believed a lie about God and her God-breathed identity. She let satan convince her that God and his love could not be trusted and that she was less than. She doubted that she was perfectly loved and made in the image of God. Hurt and pride led her to steal the fruit of the forbidden tree. Adam passively joined her and the poisonous rancid fruit of sin quickly spread as a deadly plague infecting– corrupting their hearts, minds, bodies and everything around them.
I have deeply repented for the hidden prejudice, rebellion and self righteousness in my own heart. I will never understand the pain and struggle of what it means to be black in America. My cries are for Holy Spirit to consume my heart with God’s love so that all I say and do brings the Kingdom of God– not the Kingdom of darkness. My pastor friend Lori Slaughter said recently, “repentance is not just asking for forgiveness, it is turning from the lies you believed about God that lead you to sin”. The book of Hebrews puts it this way, “let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” Heb 12:1-2
This is the kind of repentance that is needed to defeat the plague of racism. Change needs to start in us and through us in order to change our world. This is a heart issue that started back in the garden and is seen throughout history. It is not just an American curse– it is the curse of human nature. Protests won’t change it—riots definitely won’t change it–throwing out the police won’t change it— and new politicians won’t change it. Only the Spirit of God— only Jesus can change and redeem the hearts of sinful wicked humans.
Jesus clearly modeled what our response to this crisis should look like. We should refuse to let the world’s systems and media tell us how we should think– or feel or act. We should not be bullied into taking a side between two worldly answers. As His followers, we are not to align ourselves with the world’s movements and hashtags. Especially if they promote violence or support those who steal– kill and destroy. Jesus already started a movement against racism— it’s called the Kingdom of God. If we claim to follow Christ, that is the only hashtag we should be aligning ourselves with. We are called higher.
Let’s be clear—it is not racist or uncaring to say “all lives matter”– Jesus spoke and acted in a way that would wholeheartedly confirm that statement. God loved his precious created world so much that He sent His only son Jesus TO DIE so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. The sacrificial life of love that Jesus invites us to is so radical–so beyond just standing in solidarity against injustice. He called us to sacrifice our own lives for the sake of others– not sacrifice others for our own sake. This kind of supernatural love values, respects and honors EVERY PERSON– every unique and beautiful person– no matter the color of the skin– or nationality, age or gender.
Jesus shattered the racism and classism of His day– eating with tax-collectors and drunkards. Allowing a broken sinful women– considered unclean by the religious leaders— to wash His feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair. Touching those labeled untouchable– unworthy– less than. One of His most scandalous acts came at Jacob’s well in Samaria.
The Jews and Samaritans despised each other. The Jews considered them mixed breeds who practiced a counterfeit version of Judaism. They called them unclean “dogs”. Less than humans. According to Jewish tradition, a Rabbi would never speak with a woman in public! A Jew would never accept a drink from a Samaritan’s cup. But Jesus tore down all those barriers on that day. He modeled love for His disciples as they stood with their mouths hanging open and eyes popping in unbelief.
Jesus did not hashtag a selfie with her– #samaritanlivesmatter. He did not stand in solidarity or patronize her. He did not organize a protest at the temple. He saw her and loved her as the unique and beautiful person– individual– that she was. He did not offer her pity– but living water! The living water Jesus offers creates something life-giving in the heart of the one who drinks it. He offered her the Kingdom of God– not what the kingdoms of this world had to offer.
The disciples learned something deeper in that moment. Jesus showed them that something greater was at stake. Bringing people into the Kingdom of God was the urgent priority. His redemption of a single Samaritan woman led to a shift in the spirit realm that changed a village– and the hearts of his racist disciples.
Jesus and the disciples spent two days in Samaria— something neither the disciples nor the Samaritans would have ever dreamed of. The story ends with these amazing words, “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.” And many more believed because they encountered the redeeming love of Jesus for themselves.
As followers of Jesus, we should stand against injustice and against the evils of racism– but we are also called to more– something higher. We have the very answers to the chaos and hatred in our world. We have a mission that we should be more preoccupied with. Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-19)
If we actually spent our lives doing that, we would see God bring real change to our hearts and culture. I confess–I am guilty of not living wholeheartedly– sacrificially for this mission. I repent and choose to run after Jesus. I choose to live this mission of sacrificial love from this day forward– in the grace and power of the Holy Spirit! I refuse to let the world dictate any longer how I see and respond to people.
During these months of plague, chaos, confusion, fear-mongering and overreaching government– one truth remains: GOD IS FAITHFUL.
I have found myself praying through the Psalms these last few weeks– letting them give words to the groans and praise of my heart. It has been a difficult, yet sweet time of encouraging myself in the Lord and hearing him speak words of comfort.
This morning as I was praying through Psalm 9 and had to pause at verses 9-10. “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”.
A refuge for the oppressed and introuble? That really resonated with the cry of my heart over recent months. I decided to do a Hebrew word study and get some context of what David was thinking–feeling– knowing about our great God.
The word used here for refuge: שׂגב sagav– means to be high up in a refuge in the heavens, a place that is inaccessible. The word for oppressed: עדה adah– means to be crushed under by affliction or to be under a heavy weight.
It is clear that David– and the LORD– want us to remember that GOD alone is our refuge from the enemies trying to crush us—pin us down–or bind us up in fear. It is not only a picture of God surrounding us and protecting us– but of Him personally carrying us up and away from all the oppressive trouble coming against us. Away from the taunts of the enemy seeking to bind us up in dread and fear. He takes us high above the raging storms –above the enemy’s attacks– up to His vantage point. There we can rest in His care and focus on the truth of who He is and who we are in Him.
David also understood that God helped His people–His children who have relationship with Him (know Your name), they have faith in Him (put their trust in You), and they seek Him (who seek You). He reminds us that we can find refuge in seeking Him, in knowing His name. To ‘know Your name’ means to learn God’s character as made known by His acts.
I encourage you to spend some time in Psalm 9– read it through in its context. Let David’s inspired words wash over your heart today.
There is so much chaos, confusion— fear and anger swirling these last few days. The LORD has put these passages on my heart —(and the hearts of many others) there is so much more going on around us than Covid19 and the political positioning.
I write this exhortation for MYSELF— to “encourage myself in the Lord” (as David did)—but also for all who have felt arrows in the dark coming from every direction:
Stand up and stay standing! We are children of the living God! We are the Bride of Christ! The same power that raised Him from the dead also lives in us! Beloved— you are ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, not the kingdoms of this world.
Satan (and his legions) come to steal, kill and destroy. Our mighty- sovereign God has given us POWER, LOVE & A SOUND MIND!
This difficult season has revealed that Satan has a strategy to steal our power by making us think we are power-less and alone. He also comes to kill love with a spirit of fear ( God’s perfect love casts out fear), and to destroy our soundness of mind with chaos and confusion.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in His letter to the Ephesians:
“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. (one paraphrase translation says “Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.”)
For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.
In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit — which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”
Read John 4: 1-42
As we begin, it is important that we let God’s word speak for itself. We must throw off our modern American glasses so that we may place ourselves within the time and place of the story. We need to see how John lays out the encounter in order to bring into focus the full picture of the Father’s heart of restoration and love.
The account opens with a sense of urgency as we are told that Jesus was rising in popularity and heading for a confrontation with the Pharisees and religious leaders. Jesus knew that it was not yet the time for confrontation in Jerusalem, so they left for Galilee.
What we read next is that Jesus “had to go through Samaria” which was a dangerous route that most Jews avoided due to a deep hatred and mistrust between the Jews and the Samaritans. Though John doesn’t tell us why Jesus had to go through Samaria, we can guess that is was because there were people there who needed to hear Him.
In order to really grasp the uncertainty the disciples must have wrestled with on the journey, we will need a bit of the backstory that caused the hatred between the Jews and Samaritans.
After Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C., they deported some of the people and transplanted other people groups into the region of Samaria. Those who were left behind in the land eventually intermarried with these other groups and engaged in idolatrous worship. It became a patchwork of different faiths including a form a Judaism.
The Samaritan Israelites considered themselves “the keepers” of the ancient faith and opposed the worship of God in Jerusalem— believing that Mount Gerizim was the true place of God’s covenant blessing. They disagreed with the Jews on the identity of the place of worship and on the other books that should have been accepted by the people of Israel—the Prophets and the Writings. The Jews considered them mixed breeds who practiced a counterfeit version of Judaism. By the time of Jesus’ ministry, the bitter hatred was deeply rooted.
Let’s get back to the story,
“So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, he sat by the well. It was about the sixth hour”.
John is intentional in his mention of the plot given by Jacob to his son Joseph and the city called Sychar— which is the area of ancient Shechem. This is where God first appeared to Abram in Canaan—renewing the promise of giving the land to him and his descendants.
Jacob bought a piece of land there from a Canaanite and built an altar to the Lord. This is also the place where Joshua and the people of Israel renewed their commitment to Yahweh proclaiming, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24)
As we follow on the journey we can almost feel the hot sun beating down on the dusty trail. We hear the crunch of stones under their sandaled feet. It is the 6th hour (about noon), and Jesus was wearied from a long day of walking so he sits to rest at the well.
The disciples go on into the city to buy some food and just then—
a Samaritan woman appears at the well to draw water.
“Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”…
The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)”
John 4:7-9
Wait, “Jesus said to her” ?
According to Jewish tradition, a Rabbi would never speak with a woman in public! A Jew would never accept a drink from a Samaritan’s cup. She must have been startled—perhaps even pulling her headscarf tighter around her face.
Jesus tells her “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
John 4:10-15
Not only does Jesus speak to her— but he shows her that she has value as he offers her “living water”. The woman says, “You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”
The woman’s defenses start to come down as she struggles to figure out what he really means…
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” John 4:13-15
The living water Jesus offers creates something life-giving in the heart of the one who drinks it. The response of the woman was logical— not spiritual.
But in that moment, Jesus goes after her heart!
“Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband”
John 4:16-18
Many of us have heard teaching on this passage before. We were taught that Jesus is calling out her sin and accusing her of adultery. But if that were the case, John would have told us as he does in chapter 5 when Jesus heals a man crippled for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda. “Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14) Perhaps if we look deeper we can see a different perspective for John’s telling of the encounter with the Samaritan woman.
Instead of assuming that she was an adulteress— which the text never says— perhaps she is a women who has had several husbands die or that her husbands divorced her because she was barren. In Israelite society, a woman could not initiate divorce.
Some scholars suggest she was a prostitute looking for her next customer. They reason that upright women drew water in the morning when it was cooler, not at midday. What if the detail that she was alone doesn’t speak about her character? What if John is telling the time of day to explain why Jesus would be hot, thirsty and weary—not to highlight when virtuous women went to the well for water. (Dr. Lynn H. Cohick)
It is highly unlikely that she was divorced five times for committing adultery. Most men would not marry a convicted adulteress. In either case, she may have been considered cursed by her community—damaged goods. Many make the assumption that she is living in sin with another man (not her husband), but perhaps she is living with a distant relative or in some other undesirable non-sexual relationship in order to survive.
Can you sense the brokenness in her heart? The shame and rejection? Jesus tells her that He knows her story— that He sees her pain. He wants to heal and redeem her.
She must have been shocked that Jesus had supernatural knowledge of her life—her shame. She knew that He must be a Prophet! She switches to religious questions, “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
Jesus again tears down barriers by teaching a woman— Rabbis did not teach woman. The first century Rabbi Eliezer said, ‘The words of Torah should burn rather than be taught to women.’”
But in Jesus’ great compassion for her— He reveals the true heart of the Father…
“…the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:21-24
She replies, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Those words must have made her heart stop!
“Could it be true? This is the Messiah and He is talking to me?”.
Though Samaritans did not except the Prophetic books, they believed in a Messiah called the Taheb, which means “restorer.” He would be a prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:15,18).
We must pause and note that if this were a woman of ill repute, no-one would have listened to her—instead they believed her and ran to see!
John tells that the disciples came back and “marveled that he was talking with a woman”. Marveled? The woman leaves her water jar and runs into town telling everyone, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” John 4:29
We now read that “in the meantime”, the confused disciples try to encourage Jesus to eat— but he replies with a cryptic, “I have food to eat that you do not know about…My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work”.
It is their turn to learn from Jesus. He tells them to look—to lift up their eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest. He explains that the Father has planted a harvest—right there in front of them!
They never considered Samaria as a part of the mission— that Samaritans could be worthy of redemption and salvation. Jesus is showing them the Father’s inclusive restorative love and that they must harvest as the Father directs.
Scholar Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg observes, “It is interesting that the place for this encounter with the Samaritan women was chosen by the Lord of providence in such a beautiful way”. This broken-hearted—emotionally alienated woman, “finds faith in a covenant renewing conversation with God’s Royal Son Jesus—who has come to reunite all Israel with her God. This happens at the very place where the ancient Israelites renewed their covenant in response to God’s word”.
Jesus and the disciples spend two days in Samaria— something neither the disciples nor the Samaritans would have ever dreamed of. The story ends with these amazing words,
“Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.”
And many more believed because they encountered the redeeming love of Jesus for themselves. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)
We can now see through a different lens that no matter what the circumstances were leading up to this encounter, this woman must have endured much pain and deep rejection. In the end, her testimony and joy caused many in her city to believe!
This story of Jesus’ intentional love should move us to consider the barriers in our own lives. Who are the people we deem unworthy of the love of Christ? It causes me to wonder if I ever walk the long way around to purposely avoid certain people. Do I look for people I think are safe to share God’s love and salvation with instead of the harvest of broken-hearted the Lord puts in front of me?
I am painfully aware in this moment that I was a broken-hearted lost woman— trapped in sin, shame and rejection—-until Jesus pursued me at my “well”. I am amazed anew at the scandalous grace of my King Jesus.
John writes later in his gospel, “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’
(John 7:37-38)
As born-again believers, we have the Holy Spirit living in us and now Jesus’ living water flows from our own hearts. We are to share it with the thirsty, lost and broken around us that they may receive salvation—redemption, healing and eternal life from Jesus as well.
Let us always consider that people’s lives and circumstances may not be what they appear. We may never know the crushing weight of pain someone is carrying as we encounter them along the way.
The words of Paul come to mind, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” Colossians 3:12-14
Finding My Way Home 