1 MelissaBennett "FaithGushingOutintheWorld" John4:142 16July2008–ChurchoftheBrethrenAnnualConference
Weareinvitedtothewellatnoon…withaJewandaSamaritan,withawomananda man,withonefeelingparchedandonequenchingthirst. Prejudice,suspicion,scandal,agrudge forcenturies…underthoseconditions,thesetwomeet. Longerthananyoneelse…disciples, familymembers,adversaries…inalltheGospels,Jesusholdsthelongestconversation withthis womanatthewell. Prejudice…suspicion…scandal…agrudgeforcenturies…turnsto compassion,trust,grace,…andlove. Itstartsasanordinaryday.Eachontheirownjourneyofsustaininglife…capitalLand smalll. Notexpectingtomeetanyoneatthewellthatday,thewomanistakenbysurprisewhen Jesussimplyspeakstoher. Thewomanmightbesurprisedifanyonespoketoher…theveryfact thatshedrewwateratnoon,thehottestpartoftheday,presumesshewantedtoavoidthecrowds ofthemorningandevening. Shewasisolatedandalone,bychoiceorbychance. Inthemidstofaconfusingconversationaboutwater,welearnthiswomanhashad5 husbandsandthemansheislivingwithnowisnotherhusband. Wedonotknowwhathas happenedinherlife…butsomewhereinthehistoryofChristianity,we'vecometoknowherasa tramp,aprostitutemaybe,certainlyimmoral…asinner…atleastthatishowI'veheardthestory. ButNOWHEREinthetextdoesitsaywhyshehashad5husbands. Issheawidow Divorced Abused Disregarded Jesusdoesnotmakeanyjudgmentonhersituation,hesimply acknowledgesit.Clearly,themoralityofherpersonalrelationships,chosenornot, doesn'tseem toconcernJesusasmuchasitdoestherestofusreadingthestory.
2 Thankfully,Jesusspoketoher,askedherforhelp. Weinthechurch,atleastI'llspeak fortheChurchoftheBrethren,wouldhavetoformacommitteetowriteaquerytotaketo annualconferencetoformastudycommitteetobringarecommendationsothatwecouldvote onwhetherornotweshouldengagethiswoman. ButJesus…whenothersmighthavedismissedher, orworse,humiliatedher…Jesus engagesher. Sheisnotoblivioustothesocialbarriersheiscrossing…scandalouslydisregarding. Whileitisherhomeland,andheistheguestthere,sheknowsJewsdespiseSamaritans. Notto mentionthefactthatJewishrabbisneverengageinpublicconversationwith women. TodrinkofhercupwouldmakeJesusadisgraceinhiscommunity. Sheknowsthat. Suspiciousofhismotiveorconcernedforhiswellbeing,shewonders…Whywouldhewant anythingfromher Incrediblyso,Jesusignoresallthosesocialboundariesandtaboos.Icanonlyimagine thathedoessoatfirstbecauseheisthirsty!...sohotandtiredfromhislongjourney…so desperateforwaterthatadrinkfrom anyonewaswelcomed.Butevenafterhereceiveshis drink,hedoesnotsimplyrun ontobetterthings. HetreatsthisSamaritanwomanwithrespect anddignity,asafullhumanbeing,aworthyrecipientofthegraceofGod,notasthedespised enemyfromwhomtofearcontamination.Buthe alsodoesnotreducetheirconversationto somethingniceandpoliteandnonthreatening. Heengagesdeeply,theologically andpersonally. AndthewomanisnotapassiverecipienttoJesus'offer. AstheologianBonnieThurston

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