So far, Jesus has crossed all gender, cultural and racial barriers to get to one woman. He asks her for a drink of water and that opens the door for a connection that would not otherwise be made between a Jew and a Samaritan. He tells her of the living water that will quench her thirst, eternally, and she bites. She jumps at the opportunity to have the kind of water that will keep her from returning to all her "man-made wells" again…then, He points out her sin. “Go get your husband,” (v16)
Can you imagine? You are having a great conversation with someone, thinking that you are making a connection and feeling comfortable and then that person points directly to the most vulnerable, probably most painful, place in your life; really in your heart. I wander what this dear woman felt in that moment? First, having to get over the fact that a Jewish man was even talking to her, then having him point directly to her shame. The thing she probably hates most about herself, but for some reason can’t break the cycle. I wander if she withdrew? If she cowered down? If she dropped her head in shame and shock? I don’t know, but whatever was going on in her heart, what was happening with her and Jesus compelled her to keep talking, to be honest.
I love that. It tells me that Jesus wasn’t attacking her. He couldn’t have had a judgmental tone or any kind of sarcasm in His voice. He must have been as gentle as a lamb, and disarming, because she was able to stand there and say to this Jewish man she had just met, “I don’t have a husband,” (v 17). Maybe she was hoping that was the end of it. That she could get away with sharing that piece of information and move on because this man could not possibly know about her life.
Question: How often do we give an answer that portrays a life we wish we were living, or pretend to live, so we can keep our secrets hidden?
Nothing is ever hidden from our Savior! It tickles me silly when I think about the times I've thought, ”I gotta make sure Jesus doesn’t see that thought or hear me say that!” LOL! I have no idea how to wrap my head and heart around the truth that Jesus knows me more than I know myself! “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me” (Psalm 139:1). He knows parts of me I have yet to discover, simply because I can’t even handle the depth of my own dark heart all at once. But here is the kicker -
HE LOVES ME STILL! OH HOW HE LOVES!
His love is the gentle love that tells you about your sins. Jesus agrees with the fact that she doesn’t have a husband and confirms that He in fact knows all about her life, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband for you have had five husbands and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” (v. 18) It’s the kind of love that is complete. That is truth! That heals you so thoroughly and completely that, rather than turn in shame and hide, you freely run to tell others what you have done and what Jesus has done for you - in spite of you!
OH HOW HE LOVES!
The day we get it…the day we fully embrace, receive and rest in the steadfast, unbelievable, undeniable, unconditional love of Jesus Christ, on that day we will soar! On that day we will experience a freedom unexplainable! On that day we will run! FREE from judgement of others! FREE from all our insecurities! FREE from shame! FREE to tell everyone about a GOD who has Living Water to satisfy our thirsty souls, eternally!
OH HOW HE LOVES!
JESUS! Help us know your love! Help us fully embrace your love! Help us rest in your love so that we can be FREE to run and tell everyone we know who You are and how very much you love us!
Can you imagine? You are having a great conversation with someone, thinking that you are making a connection and feeling comfortable and then that person points directly to the most vulnerable, probably most painful, place in your life; really in your heart. I wander what this dear woman felt in that moment? First, having to get over the fact that a Jewish man was even talking to her, then having him point directly to her shame. The thing she probably hates most about herself, but for some reason can’t break the cycle. I wander if she withdrew? If she cowered down? If she dropped her head in shame and shock? I don’t know, but whatever was going on in her heart, what was happening with her and Jesus compelled her to keep talking, to be honest.
I love that. It tells me that Jesus wasn’t attacking her. He couldn’t have had a judgmental tone or any kind of sarcasm in His voice. He must have been as gentle as a lamb, and disarming, because she was able to stand there and say to this Jewish man she had just met, “I don’t have a husband,” (v 17). Maybe she was hoping that was the end of it. That she could get away with sharing that piece of information and move on because this man could not possibly know about her life.
Question: How often do we give an answer that portrays a life we wish we were living, or pretend to live, so we can keep our secrets hidden?
Nothing is ever hidden from our Savior! It tickles me silly when I think about the times I've thought, ”I gotta make sure Jesus doesn’t see that thought or hear me say that!” LOL! I have no idea how to wrap my head and heart around the truth that Jesus knows me more than I know myself! “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me” (Psalm 139:1). He knows parts of me I have yet to discover, simply because I can’t even handle the depth of my own dark heart all at once. But here is the kicker -
HE LOVES ME STILL! OH HOW HE LOVES!
His love is the gentle love that tells you about your sins. Jesus agrees with the fact that she doesn’t have a husband and confirms that He in fact knows all about her life, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband for you have had five husbands and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” (v. 18) It’s the kind of love that is complete. That is truth! That heals you so thoroughly and completely that, rather than turn in shame and hide, you freely run to tell others what you have done and what Jesus has done for you - in spite of you!
OH HOW HE LOVES!
The day we get it…the day we fully embrace, receive and rest in the steadfast, unbelievable, undeniable, unconditional love of Jesus Christ, on that day we will soar! On that day we will experience a freedom unexplainable! On that day we will run! FREE from judgement of others! FREE from all our insecurities! FREE from shame! FREE to tell everyone about a GOD who has Living Water to satisfy our thirsty souls, eternally!
OH HOW HE LOVES!
JESUS! Help us know your love! Help us fully embrace your love! Help us rest in your love so that we can be FREE to run and tell everyone we know who You are and how very much you love us!
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