Today’s reading: John 4:1-29
As we move into John 4, we reach the well-known account of “the woman at the well.”
Toward the end of the day, Jesus stops at a well in the city of Sychar in Samaria on his way to Galilee. Jesus is physically tired from traveling on foot and stays at the well while the disciples go to purchase food. The well is pretty much deserted at this time of the day, but a woman from Samaria comes to draw water. When she reaches the well, Jesus tells this woman to give him a drink. The woman is a bit stunned that Jesus speaks to her given that Jesus is a Jew and she is a Samaritan, but a dialogue begins. Jesus quickly turns to talk about spiritual matters–specifically salvation.
What immediately stood out to me from this account was Jesus’s “all are welcome” mindset and actions. True to form, Jesus breaks the rules–in a good way. He doesn’t care that this woman is a Samaritan, a people group with whom the Jews don’t associate. He doesn’t care that he’s engaging in conversation with a woman, something rarely done at this time in history. He doesn’t care that she’s a woman with a poor reputation and low standing in the community. Jesus only sees a lost soul that needs saving, and He reaches out and welcomes her in.
How do you view the people you encounter on a daily basis? Are you inclined to assess them based on their appearance, social status, education, financial condition, ethnicity, political affiliation, age or gender? What do Jesus’s actions show us about valuing ALL people? How can and will you be more like Jesus–welcoming and showing love to ALL–as you’re out and about this week? Tami
Source: Tami’s Blog
