19 Oct THE DAY I MET LOVE
It was about twelve noon and as usual I had to go to the well, I always chose this time because it was usually less crowded at this time of the day. I will not have to face much booing or mockery from my town people.
As I approached the well I saw this gentle looking man sitting on it, I paused a little bit as I noticed he was a Jew. A Jew! Jews do not like Samaritans at all, so what was he doing here sitting on our well, is he not afraid he would be defiled, ha?! They always think too much of themselves, always think only they know God, know how to worship Him and are chief custodians of His presence. I really wondered what he was doing there…
“Please fetch some water and give me to drink”
I jumped! Did he just speak to me?! Is he truly a Jew, does he know what his people could do to him if they caught him here, speaking to me a Samaritan and worse still a woman?
“How come you ask me for a drink, I am a Samaritan and you Jews would have nothing to do with us?” I hoped he would leave me alone…
“You don’t know what God wants to give you, and you don’t know who is asking you for a drink. If you did, you would ask me for the water that gives life.” Who does he think he is?
“Sir,” I ventured “you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where are you going to get this life-giving water? Our ancestor Jacob dug this well for us, and his family and animals got water from it. Are you greater than Jacob?”
Who does he think he is? Does he know the history behind this well? Is he better than our father Jacob who dug this well, does he even know who Jacob was, how great he was? If he did he would not even suggest there is any well cleaner or better than this one.
He spoke again “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again. But no one who drinks the water I give will ever be thirsty again. The water I give is like a flowing fountain that gives eternal life.”
He caught my attention at this point. Is he really going to save me the misery of having to come here over and over again? Is he going to deliver me from the shame I have to deal with every time I have to come to the well, can he really let the constant reproach reduce at least? Passing through all the people as they sneer at me and call me all those life draining names? What if he can truly do what he claims, should I take a chance…?
“Sir, please give me a drink of that water! Then I won’t get thirsty and have to come to this well again.” I hoped he could, and then he gave me yet another shocker…
“Go and bring your husband.”
“I don’t have a husband.” I didn’t want to go into details of this story, more than enough people already knew; I didn’t want another addition, besides if he knew, he probably would not give me this forever water any more.
“That’s right,” he said “you’re telling the truth. You don’t have a husband. You have already been married five times, and the man you are now living with isn’t your husband.”
Oh no, who told him? So he knew all these while? Is this some kind of setup or… or…
“Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. My ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews say Jerusalem is the only place to worship.” Though I really needed to know why they thought so, I also needed to distract him form the subject he brought up. I need to look good enough for that water…
He started saying how very soon we shall neither worship in our mountain or in Jerusalem, how they knew whom they worshipped and we did not, how we would begin to worship God in spirit and truth…whatever that meant.
Anyway, I thought to myself that when the Messiah comes he will explain correctly. And I told him that, and then he told me with the softest, most tender voice, with eyes filled with a love and compassion I have never known, love that pierced through all my insecurities and fears, very compelling …”I am that one, and I am speaking to you now.”
My heart melted in the presence of this love, I couldn’t contain it, I just had to share with everyone, though I was not at all the least of the favourites of the natives of Sychar, I ran towards them, unashamed, unafraid but full of love, hope and joy. He, The Messiah (who else could know so much and give so much love) loved me, He loved me in-spite of my many sins…
I had to share this love; they had to know The Messiah was right here in our own city, in Samaria. They needed to know that they were not out casts from God after all; they needed to know they could be accepted…they needed to know…
Culled from the story of The Woman At The Well – John 4(CEV)
Is this not the same for so many of us?
God loves us inspite of everything…and He will use us in-spite of everything…He will break all the laws of our system to get to us if He has to…
He expects we also share His love when we receive it…
1 Corithians 1:27 (CEV)
But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame.
Romans 5:8 (CEV)
But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.
2 Corinthians 5:18 (CEV)
God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.
Ikenna Nwosu
Posted at 12:54h, 10 JanuaryHow unimaginable and unconditional the love of God stands. Even with the societal standard today which is at an all time low, the Samaritan woman would not stand a chance. Five husbands and still the man she lived with at the time of the story did not even fit the picture of a husband? That did really hit the ceiling. Yet Jesus, our example, reached out to her without holding back. Perhaps, he did manage the situation because He is the Messiah? Sincerely, it appears more like Jesus focusing on the real value of the Samaritan woman- a creature of the Most High, created in the image of God and whom He is set to die for and snatch from the claws of death and eternal condemnation. That prize is worth the go, the length notwithstanding. It speaks to me and indeed breeds great confidence adorned with hope and rare joy. That Jesus loves me with an unfailing love. With such fortress-assuring faithfulness that reaches the skies and beyond. At a start of the year as this, He presents me a clean slate, my flaws, mistakes, fears and bewilderment, all melted at the feet of His ageless mercies.
It is interesting and striking how Jesus was introducing the endless spring of eternal life in unimaginable bliss of the kingdom of God and the Samaritan woman was concerned about the stress of walking her way daily to the well. Perhaps, the thinking that Jesus would build her a borehole at her home with all the fine bathe and water tap so there would be no need to fetch water from the well. His thoughts are truly not like ours. Truly, we can’t imagine what God wants to give to us.
Praise God for the grace and the revelation of the gospel of salvation. We embrace the unfailing love o God and the fullness it presents. Amen.
Ugochi
Posted at 16:17h, 18 AprilOh yes we do bro! I just pray someone would after reading this. God bless you!
Elizabeth Johnson
Posted at 17:19h, 24 OctoberLoved this! Such an encouragement to know that God can use ME and work through ME, though I am not popular or rich or anything like that! Thanks for the reminder!
Ugochi
Posted at 22:19h, 31 OctoberYes Elizabeth, God chooses the weak and nothings like you and I, and He uses us to His glory. Thanks for coming by and leaving a note. Have a super blessed day!
Love
Clairejustine
Posted at 18:00h, 23 OctoberThanks for sharing with us at welcome to the weekend hop 🙂 have a lovely week….
Ugochi
Posted at 23:34h, 23 OctoberAnd thanks for having me Claire! Have a super blessed day!
Love