Jesus Speaks to Women: Breaking the Routine

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. John 4: 7-8

Spotlight buzzes on. The Samaritan woman makes her entrance.  All eyes are on her.  What will she do?

I've always imagined her as a slender, downcast figure who often wishes she could be invisible.  That's why she waits until the noon hour to go draw her water ... to avoid the town gossips.  She doesn't want to run into anyone at all...she just wants to get her water and go.  She doesn't want any eyes on her.  She doesn't want to hear the murmuring tongues of her neighbors.  She doesn't want to feel the rejection.  She doesn't ask for anything.  She just wants water.  

I imagine the ritual of drawing water brings a certain comfort to her troubled heart.  The routine movements, the familiarity of the surroundings, the soft cadence of the jar going down the well, the strain in her muscles pulling it back up, reminding her she is still alive...she finds comfort in the repetitive steps, and her soul finds a moment of peace...

Not that day, though.

There is nothing familiar about that day.  

A man is there: "Ugh...sigh...such is my luck!"

Not just any man: a Jew...double gulp.

This Man's eyes pierce through her soul.  Then, He speaks to her, not the words she would've imagined...He asks for a drink...how intriguing...

Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."  

The way I picture the scene, I see the Samaritan woman frozen in place for a split second, her mind racing as fast as lightning: "what...???  Did this Jewish Man just asked me for a drink? Did that just happen? Wait...what?"

Of course she didn't know who He was.  All she knew was that He was a Jew and Jews don't have anything to do with Samaritans.  She was a woman, alone...He was a Jewish man, in Samaria...talking to her...the picture was just so wrong in her head.  Nothing about it was the way it was supposed to be.  "Who is this Man who is disrupting all conventions? Who is this Man who is disrupting my one moment of peace?  Who is this Man who dares speak to me? He obviously doesn't know who I am...if He knew, He wouldn't dare even be near my presence..."

She doesn't know that the weary Man who needed to rest by the well, who was thirsty and hungry, asking for a drink, waiting for His disciples to bring Him food is none other than the King of Glory who came down for you and me!  

Praised be the Precious Name of Jesus, Who being in His very nature God, is also a Man who knows the struggles of humanity and the suffering of the individual person.  May the Holy Spirit give us eyes to see and a mind to discern His amazing gift of love.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Timing!

It was about noon. John 4: 6b

Noon...the middle of the day.  The moment when it isn't morning or afternoon...an in-between. The spot where you are infinitely removed from the safety of your warm bed, but still light years away from returning to it.  The time of the day when the sun is usually at its highest point.  That was the moment when Jesus stopped to rest by the well.  

Why is this an important detail in this story? Well, apparently, this small piece of information is key to the events that proceeds.  According to Jon Courson's Commentary, "women typically drew water in the morning or in the evening.  But this woman, for reasons we shall see, wanted to avoid the other women of the community.  Consequently, she would wait until the hot, noontime hour, when everyone else would be resting or eating, to make her journey to the well."

Sigh...

Don't you just want to hit the pause button right here and ponder the wonders of God's perfect timing?

How many times do I fret and panic about things not executed in MY timing?  How many times have I questioned why things unfold when they do and not earlier or later?  How many times I believe I know when the appropriate time for something is or isn't?  How many times have I been at odds with God's punctuality? Only to witness the meticulous exactitud with which every second rolls away...sigh...

Jesus was fully on cue!  Of course He was.  That's how His plans always work out.  That's how He always operates...since the moment He came onto this earth...at the fullness of time,

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son. Galatians 4: 4

Dear Lord Jesus, may we appreciate the magnificent perfection of your timing, regardless of our own self-constructed idea of what the right time should be.  May we rest in the comfort of your perfect plan, regardless of our own understanding.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Relax

... and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. John 4: 6a

Do you know that moment?  The moment when you are so, so, so tired that you just have to sit down.  No matter what, you just hit a wall, and have to collapse somewhere in the shade.  That's how I feel every Monday or Wednesday when I put in 12 hours at work.  I climb the stairs from the garage and by the last step, I feel the weight of a heavy day just land on my weak shoulders.  I'm hungry.  I'm thirsty.  I'm exhausted.  I cannot deal with anything else.  I just need to rest.

The journey of life is not an easy one.  Regardless of what it might seem from our vantage point, nobody has a smooth ride all the way through.  And sometimes, there isn't anything else we can do, but to drop it all and sit down.

Aren't you comforted by knowing that Jesus knows what that feels like?

I know, I am.  He is fully God and fully Man.  Therefore, his human body felt every bit of the hardships of humanity as our own do.  The journey was long.  And He was on foot.  It was hot.  And He was nowhere near home.  He had to sit down.  Jesus had to sit down because He was tired!  Did you read that?  The Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Creator of the Universe had to sit down because He. Was. Tired!

So...why do we ever think we can go on forever like the energizer bunny?  I know, I know, Jesus had a divine appointment to meet at that well.  But that is not more true than the fact that He was tired and needed to rest.  And. So. Do. We!  That's what I gather Jesus is trying to tell us here. And that's why this detail was included.

That is the reality of our humanity: we need rest.  

God Himself rested at the end of creation.  He instituted the Sabbath so we could rest.  Why do we dismiss it as if resting were illegal? Why do we think resting is irresponsible?  

We live rushed lives, and we miss live in the mad race.  We miss what is all about: encountering the Living Jesus!

May the Holy Spirit guide us as we search for moments of rest and incorporate intentional pauses into our days before we wear ourselves out so much, that we don't even remember why we are here for.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: The New Samaritans

3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) John 4: 4-8

Moving on through the Gospel according to John, after the wedding in Cana, we see another famous and very significant encounter between Jesus and a woman:  The Samaritan woman at the well.  There is such richness in this text, that I don't even know where to start.  I guess, I will just start at the beginning, right?

3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria.  It seems like a simple statement about Jesus' travels' itinerary.  No big deal, or is it?  Apparently, at the time, the quickest and simplest way to go from Judea to Galilee was, indeed, through Samaria, the region in the middle.  However, things were way more complicated than that.  As we see in every reference book, including the one I'm using:  Jon Courson's Application Commentary, when a good Jew wanted to go from Judea to Galilee, he would never go through Samaria.  Good Jews would detour and go around, through a region called Perea on the other side of the jordan River instead.  Why? Because there was such tension between the Samaritans and the Jews, that Jews uttered the word "Samaritan" only as a curse word.

Why did Jews despise Samaritans so much? Well, centuries earlier, the Assyrians invaded Israel from the north and carried the majority of the people from the 10 northern tribes into captivity.  The Assyrians then sent some of their people to Israel, where they intermarried with the Jews not taken into captivity.  The marriages that took place between the Assyrians and the Jews produced the Samaritans: half-breeds in the eyes of the Jews. Later, they were barred from the temple, so they built their own.  They still believed in the Pentateuch, the first five books of Moses, but with modifications. (Historical background taken from Jon Courson's Commentary) 

In other words, Jews detested Samaritans.

Then, why did Jesus choose to go through that land, when it was a big NO, NO?

Well, for one thing, Jesus is God; therefore, His ways are not our ways - His are higher, more complex and unpredictable.  Then, as we will see when we continue to read the rest of the story, He had a Divine appointment in Samaria.  This encounter is another example of how Jesus is for all...including the least of us, today: the new Samaritans.

He had to go through Samaria, the same way He had to go through Calvary: not because it was the choice route, but because it was the designed route, the only way that would lead to salvation for mankind.  He did it for you and for me.  So today, in a time, land and culture far removed from the original events, we could be contemplating the beauty of His plan and the perfection of His ways, even when we don't fully understand.  

May the Holy Spirit keep our eyes and minds open to His message of love, salvation, forgiveness and acceptance.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Redirecting the Spotlight

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2: 5

Back to verse 5 of John's chapter 2, the second thing I find very telling, and that relates directly to the ideas expressed earlier is Mary's words/actions:  after Jesus tells her His famous reply: “Woman,why do you involve me?” ... “My hour has not yet come.” what does she do?  She addresses the servants and tells them to do whatever Jesus tells them to do.

Say what???!!!

I don't want to be irreverent here, but as a Mother of boys, this is almost comical.  The way I see this scene in my mind looks something like, here's Jesus "Come on, Mom...don't get me involved in this!" But then, she's like, turned around, perhaps not brushing Him off literally, but...can't you just see it? Her brushing Him off, I mean?  Can't you?  I sure can!  I've done it quite a bit with my sons: 

Me:       the floor needs to be cleaned.

Dylan:   I can't do it right now, I'm really busy.

Me:        Here's the broom.

Of course, I'm not nearly as delicate as Mary ever was.  I have yet to master the intricacies of indirect, polite requests.  But...anyway...I know, how dare I? right?  But, I can't help but see it:  Mary just got told by Jesus that He is not to be involved in this situation because His hour is not yet.  Then, what does Mary do?  She tells the servants to listen to what Jesus is going to tell them.  You decide.

But the point is not whether Mary brushed off Jesus or not.  The point is, Mary does something quite remarkable here:  she redirects the spotlight to Him. 

Whatever glory she might get for this event, she, quickly makes sure to place back on Jesus.  She points to Him as the One who will ultimately carry out the actions.  She removes herself from the stage, and shines all the light On Him.  She gives the show back to Him.

I love it!

I think of myself and how often I have wanted to taste the glory so badly, that I have forgotten I am not the One whose power is responsible for the outcome.  I'm merely the channel at best, often, just one tiny stepping stone.  So many times I've failed to redirect the spotlight, just because of how warm and exhilarating it feels to be directly standing in it...sigh...

Mary gives us an example of humility worth emulating.  I believe that's her role here: to show us how to point to Christ.

Holy Spirit, may we learn how to disappear as You Appear so others can clearly see that the glory belongs to You, and You alone! Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Witnessing Again!

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2: 5

After the rant from last time, I'm back looking at the next verse in this most intriguing passage of Scripture.  Here, we see Mary again.  But there are a couple of interesting things about this verse.  First, notice, the writer doesn't state her name.  I wonder why not?

I bet it has to do with the fact that it is important to de-emphasize her status as a main character in this event.  It would be very easy to make Mary a more important player than she really is.  Do you know what I mean?  We could see her as the power behind the throne, and I don't believe that is the point of this account.

Mary, as the Mother of Jesus does have a very significant role to play.  And I do see in the events around this miracle, the fact that perhaps Mary, as having raised Jesus and being with Him all these years, had a very good indication of the things that He is capable of doing.  I mean, look at the exchange between Jesus and Mary again:

Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 

4“Woman,why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2: 3-5

She comes to Him about the lack of wine.  Why?  Because she knows He can do something about it.

He tells her, "Ay caramba!" "It's not time yet!"  Why?  Even though Mary's words are only, seemingly just for information's sake: "Guess what? They ran out of wine!"...or an indirect request, at best: "so..." Jesus' reply implies an admission that He knows what she wants Him to do...how come? Because she might have witnessed something that cued her in the reaches of His Power...besides the fact that she got a messenger from God to announce His miraculous birth and all...

Therefore, I have a tendency to believe that Mary was significantly aware of the Power of her Son.  However, I don't believe that Jesus just does whatever Mary tells Him to do.  She might be His earthly Mother, and as the Good Son He is, He respects her.  But He is also her God and Deliverer.  So, it would be a mistake to think that Mary's power was that far reaching as to command Jesus.  I think that's the reason He gave her a respectful, but firm reply contained in the word:  "Woman!"

I have no doubt that the whole event was carefully designed by God's plan.  The scene:  a wedding: the most perfect representation of the union between Christ and His Church.  The element:  wine:  the symbol of the Redeeming Blood of None other than Jesus Himself.  The circumstance:  lacking: hence Jesus being the One who provides the perfect wine, as a foreshadow of His Most Perfect Sacrifice: the Provision of His Blood on the Cross.

Mary just happens to be a happy witness to this entire orchestration.  But boy...what a blessed witness!  To be there, at this most remarkable moment:  the moment Jesus performs His first public miracle.  Praised be His Holy Name!  Let's savor this for a minute before we continue exploring this exchange.

Jesus Speaks to Women: In the Will of My Lord!

“Woman,why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” John 2: 4

Yep, I did it again.  I nagged.  Well...maybe, perhaps, I did a bit more than that... I yelled.  I diminished.  I bossed around. I pushed. 

Yes...I wanted my will to be done, and no one cared enough to do it, so I exerted my authority...or, according to those who witnessed it: I dictated my demands in a disrespectful manner that caused much disturbance among those present.

Urgh!: expression of annoyance.  

Argh!: expression of frustration and anger

Sigh...the sound I make when my over-inflated-ego pops...

I know.  I know... I'm very demanding, and the men around me resist and reject my demanding attitude because they interpret it as disrespectful.  There is something about men not liking it when women tell them what to do... hmmm...

Even if it is for their own good, often, men just refuse to do it...just because they can.  They want to prove that they are not subjects to some hysterical woman's whim.  They want to show that they are still in charge of their own wills, and that they are not puppy dogs that jump when they are told to do so.  (I mean, I don't know what your puppy dogs are like, but mine doesn't listen to me either!)

I know...I know... I'm ranting.  And, no, I'm not doing a male-bashing venting session...though, it sure sounds like it...it's just that in reading the words that Jesus spoke to His Mother in this passage, it was as if I could hear one of the guys that live with me saying those words.  You know what I mean?  Let's read it again:  

“Woman,why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” John 2: 4

That could very well be uttered by anyone in my household:

Dan:  "Woman, why do you want me to do that now?"

Dylan:  "Woman, you are nuts if you think I'm going to stop my videogame to do that now? What's in it for me?"

Grant:  "Woman, one second..." (he is the most diplomatic about it.  Grant makes me believe that he is going to do it.  However, the "one second" deal, could last days).

Link:  "Woof, woof, woof" (translation: not in your wildest dreams.  Give me some food!)

Everything is always in their own time.  AND. IT. DRIVES. ME. CRAZY!

I said it...

I don't like it when things are not done according to MY timing.  I have no patience.  Therefore, I dictate and become frustrated because nobody listens to a bossy, hysterical woman.  But the more I scream, the less they listen.  But, rather than breaking the chain, I become even more hysterical, perpetuating the cycle.  I'm exhausted...

The thing is, I not only play this crazy game at home.  I also try to dictate to God too.  Like Mary, I like to "bring things to His attention" so He can notice and take care of them...as if He didn't know it all already!  And, adding to the issue, I want it NOW! He, however, has a timing that is different from mine and so are His ways too:  

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55: 8-9

It is not about what I want, when I want it or how I want it.  It is about trusting that He is here.  He knows me and what I need.  He provides.  His will is perfect and so is His timing.  Therefore:

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27: 14

I know I will continue to err on the side of making harsh demands of those I love.  I know I will continue to insist on my timing.  I just pray that this is less and less every day.  And that soon, I can be free from the chains of my own will, and at peace in the will of My Lord!  Amen!