The Samaritan Woman

I just love the way Jesus touched base with this lady. It’s a funny thing, but shame makes us feel as though everything about ourselves we want to hide from the glare of others is somehow all hung out there for everyone to see. Everyone. In neon lights.

Whatever had happened to this woman, she was in a mess. Decent women scorned her and kept themselves respectable and untainted. She was not fit company for nice people. They avoided her. Let her know she was being avoided. Her behaviour was not to be condoned under any circumstances.

But Jesus didn’t see her like that. I think Jesus saw the abuse this lady had suffered, the cheating, the violence. She had been used and abused by men, while she got the blame and the bad reputation. Perhaps something about her made her an easy prey. Maybe the abuse started in her own family when she was a child.

Whatever Jesus saw in this lady, He would have seen her shame. He would have picked up the cues from her behaviour. The shame, the fear in her eyes. But He also knew all about her anyway. And His response was to ask her to give Him a drink. That’s quite a personal request. He didn’t shoo her away as unfit, dirty scum.

We don’t know all the conversation that happened between them. But this woman knew that Jesus knew all about her and her life – ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did’ (John 7: 29). And she also knew that He totally accepted her. Her shame was gone. And Jesus did totally accept her. He took her seriously. He listened to her. And she listened to Him. And she was the first person recorded in John’s gospel ever to have been told by Jesus that He was the Messiah. What an absolutely, amazing privilege, honour, trust she was given! The Messiah Himself!

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, that You see right through all the defences I put up before You, towards others, and maybe towards myself. When I give myself no worth, You see my unique value. When I fear what others might think of me, You just love me, You smile over me, You want me to come near to You. And You totally accept me. And value me more highly than anyone else ever can or could. That’s Your amazing love. Thank You. Amen.