Our Gospel this past Sunday from John 4, the wonderful narrative of the Woman at the Well, has many things to teach us. Rejoice that I focused on just a few of these in my sermon!
One aspect of the Woman at the Well that I didn’t address is what it has to teach us about how to engage people with the Good News. And here Jesus himself is our model. Jesus knew how to engage this woman, and how to lead her toward placing faith in him. John wants us to know this woman is now a follower of Jesus, and it all began with a seemingly chance encounter.
What did Jesus do, and what did he know? What can we learn from him?
First of all, Jesus was willing to go beyond his comfort zone and reach across boundaries.
By choosing to go to Samaria (which most Jews avoided), by speaking to a Samaritan and a woman in public (both of which were taboo), Jesus showed he was willing to reach across social and religious boundaries to engage this woman.
In order for us to engage others, there comes a point we must be willing to do the same, to move out of our own comfort zone. Maybe it is in offering an invitation to a friend or neighbor to join us for Easter, not knowing how the invitation will be received. Maybe it is in moving the conversation beyond typical chit chat into more serious or spiritual things. For both Jesus and for us, reaching beyond and across carries with it a certain amount of risk.
Jesus treated the woman with respect.
Jesus did not look down upon this woman, treat her as second class (as a good Jew would have), and he didn’t regard her as merely the latest target for his evangelistic efforts. Jesus met this woman where she was at. He listened to her and respected her as a person. He saw her, and because of that, he was able to see the obvious pain of her life.
We all know it when we are target of someone’s need to evangelize us. It’s really all about them. The woman at the well felt the opposite, so much so that she went running to tell others. She felt heard and understood. We are called to be like Jesus, to respect, listen to, and see people before offering them unappreciated spiritual counsel or help.
Jesus persisted and didn’t give up.
“How can you (a Jew) ask me for a drink?” “Sir, I see that you are a prophet…” At several points throughout the John 4 narrative, the woman shows resistance to Jesus or dodges the issue. Yet Jesus doesn’t give up on the conversation or on her! Jesus takes it all in stride and presses forward. There is a difference between being intrusive and persisting, although the line between them can be thin. Jesus had the discernment to know the difference.
We need to exercise the same discernment, to persist yet not beat anyone over the head. It is well established people rarely respond to a first invitation to anything. They need to hear the message several times before it even registers, as advertisers know well… As I mentioned in Musings a couple of weeks ago, don’t give up after an initial “no”. It may mean “not yet” or “not at this time” or “it hasn’t really registered”.
Jesus spoke her language.
To the fishermen, Jesus talked about catching people. To the thirsty woman at the well, he spoke of living water. Whenever he taught, Jesus used images and examples from everyday life. Jesus was a master at relating to people in ways and terms they could understand and accept.
We do ourselves a disservice when we throw out churchy jargon when speaking to others, words like “sanctified” and “redeemed by the blood”. They don’t know what we are talking about, and they shouldn’t have to learn a whole new language when coming to God. For us in particular, the issue goes deeper. Words like “Anglican” and “liturgy” and “Eucharist” can leave others confused. We do better when we think before we speak, and use terms others can understand.
Jesus connected the everyday to the spiritual.
Jesus easily connected the woman’s simple thirst with the deeper reality of the living water springing forth from him. He did so because he was always open to opportunities as they came up. His mindset was such that he saw in everyday events a way to connect them to deeper, spiritual need.
We are not Jesus, and we have a lot to learn. I think it starts with opening our eyes to opportunities we are given every day. Perhaps it’s letting the woman behind you go first at the checkout line — and then wishing her God’s blessing. Perhaps it is offering to pray for the person who is complaining of a bad back, or who has a sick kid or wife – and then remembering to check back with that person later on. Perhaps it’s learning to talk about what God is doing in your life or something that happened at CTR as easily as we do that new restaurant or the big game. Jesus reminds us every day events are the gateway and entry point to the spiritual.
What did Jesus know? Five things from the way he engaged the Woman at the Well we do well to learn!
I’m Excited and Proud
We had a great worship service this past Sunday, full of energy and joy and the Spirit and presence of God. It was wonderful to see the church so full!
On Monday, we had a beautiful Burial Service for Barb Milek. My thanks go to all who helped out with food and decorations and the service. You all (we) did an outstanding job! What mattered most to me is a comment I received after the service from neighbors of Al and Barb. They told me how impressed they were, and commented to me “This is what Christian community looks like.”
So I want to pause and take this moment to let you know how excited I am about what God is doing in our midst. May it continue, and may we join in and commit to it as well. And I want to let you know how proud I am, of all that we already are, and all that we are becoming in Christ!
See you Sunday!
