John 4 reminds me of the fabled Hatfield versus McCoy feud. History tells us this was a very real story spanning generations that started over a stolen hog. Revenge and retaliation escalated and many were killed along the way. In today’s chapter we examine how to break down barriers of bias. We begin with Jesus and His disciples heading back home to Galilee by taking the direct route through the bad neighborhood of the Jewish kin-folks in Samaria. We read, “Jesus, tired as He was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon”. There is an important balance given to show Jesus was fully Man and fully God. He was tempted in all things, but He did not sin. “A Samaritan woman came to draw water”, and Jesus did the culturally unthinkable; He spoke to her. “Will you give Me a drink?” Her reaction reveals her shock, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” Jesus made the first peace offering, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water”. He is making a claim to be God, and showing her the path to reconciliation. She asked a sincere question, “Where can You get this living water?” Jesus focused on the things that unite all of us. “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst… welling up to eternal life”. She did not yet understand, but she wanted it, “Sir, give me this water”. Please note that Jesus did not present a set of rules to follow. He spoke of peace with God through faith.
Jesus did not ignore her sin, He said “call your husband and come back”. She replied, “I have no husband”. She gave a partial truth. “The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband”. There was no name-calling, and no insults, just a statement of fact. Jesus frequently spent time with the lowest level of society; and He offered them hope. Notice her reaction, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet”. We are armed with the wisdom of God, why do we get into the mud with the pig-headed? She asked another question that could have continued the feud. Which hill-top is best to worship God? He explained, “True worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth”. Jesus made one uncompromising statement. When asked about Messiah, Jesus answered, “I am He”. He told everyone, but forced no one, and He willingly died to prove it.
The chapter ends with the interesting results of talking. The woman went back to her town and told the people what happened. They asked, “Could this be the Messiah?” We read that many Samaritans “believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony”. The disciples were surprised by this reaction because of their own bias. Jesus had to help them understand, “open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest”. The Samaritans urged Jesus to stay. “He stayed two days. And because of His words many more became believers… we know that this Man really is the Savior of the world”. Later Jesus returned to His home town. We read that a nobleman approached Jesus, begging Him to come and heal his son because the boy was close to death. Jesus first admonished the locals, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe”. The nobleman became more urgent; at that Jesus told him, “Go, your son will live”. It took faith to ask, and probably more faith to leave alone. Upon arriving home the nobleman learned that his son was healed at the time when Jesus made the promise. “So he and his whole household believed”. Friend, are you feuding over things that don’t really matter? The world will continue to fan the flames that divide. Maybe it is time we talk about the good news? Salvation is for everyone that believes.