ReverendRockstar

In John 3, Jesus meets Nicodemus who represents the religious culture of the day. In the famous 3:16, Jesus reveals that God’s covenant love relationship is not limited to Israel, but is available to all people. Jesus then illustrates this in John 4.

Samaria was a region disconnected from the Jewish culture in Jerusalem. Although they shared some common religious texts and practices, they were culturally separate. In fact, many Jews in Jerusalem would go out of their way to travel around Samaria rather than through it. Jesus and His disciples go directly through the region.

It’s noted that “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans,” (verse 9) which has a connotation of “eating and drinking;” literally “to share a table with…” Ironically, Jesus’ disciples go to the Samaritan town to buy food while Jesus rests at a well (for drinking water) in the heat of the day.

A woman approaches alone to draw water. In those days, women would travel together to fetch water in the mornings or evenings (to avoid the heat). It was quite the social event. This woman, however, travels alone- disconnected from the community. The woman brings with her the baggage of several previous marriages and a current unhealthy relationship.

This woman has many hurdles preventing her from coming to the Truth: location, religion, gender, society, sin…and Jesus breaks them down. He goes through Samaria rather than going around, He converses with a woman (which Rabbis would not do), He speaks truth to the woman and addresses her sin without condemning. Jesus then spends two days in the town of the “religious disconnected.”

Jesus meets the woman where she is- without condemning or excusing her sin- and disregards the conventions and hurdles that would prevent the woman and her community from coming to the Truth. We see that through this encounter this woman and her community is changed.

Showing grace does not mean turning a blind eye to sin or injustice- it
means loving someone through their sin and leading them to the truth.