‘So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him.’
John 4:28-30
Much apprenticeship to Jesus comes down to the way that we see.
We may see a sickness, but Jesus saw a healing. We may see a hungry multitude, but Jesus saw leftovers. We may see a stormy sea, but Jesus sees a perfectly good surface for a nighttime walk. We may see a cross, but Jesus sees the joy beyond it.
Jesus continually sees what is possible beyond the problems that we face. He sees not simply what is in front of us, but what could be. He sees not just the earthly reality, but the heavenly possibility that is waiting to break into every moment.
Truly, much of our apprenticeship to Jesus comes in learning to see.
Today, Jesus takes this to a different place. He takes it not just to a situation, but to a person.
Let’s remind ourselves of the story so far. Jesus and his disciples have walked straight through a region called Samaria. Samaria was hated by the Jews for a history of religious compromise, and thus usually avoided this region. Jesus, left alone by His disciples, sat on a well outside of a town called Sychar, and a woman approached Him. The woman has had five failed marriages, and now lives with another man. She knows the rejection of being a Samaritan. She knows the rejection of being a rejected Samaritan — a failure in a city of so-called failures. She is so ashamed of her story that she goes to the well to fetch water at high noon, when nobody should have been there.
And yet, Jesus interrupts her. He interrupts her by talking to her. He interrupts her by naming a thirst of soul in her that runs deeper than the thirst in her body. He interrupts her by openly naming her history of broken relationships. He interrupts her by reorienting her every idea of religion and worship and spirituality and God.
And yet, there is further interruption to come. For the story continues today, with the woman running back to her village — leaving her jar behind — to tell everybody about the man she has just met. This woman, a Samaritan outcast. This woman, a life of broken relationships and broken reputation. This woman, her daily life choices marked by hiding and shame. This woman, becomes the apostle to her city, proclaiming to everyone who will listen that there is another Way of being, and that His Name is Jesus.
The Jews looked and saw a Samaritan. The Samaritans looked and saw a relational failure. Jesus looked and He saw a child of God, worthy of the living waters of heavenly life itself. Jesus looked and saw the first woman preacher of the New Testament.
No wonder she left her jar behind.
When we look at ourselves, we have things that we see. Failures. Strengths. Insecurities. Potential. Things we are proud of. Things we hide from.
And yet, when Jesus sees us, what might He see?
My guess, my friends, is that He may see things in us that would revolutionise our every way of thinking and being. My guess is that, if we could see what He sees, we would be mixed with impossible joy and wondering fear. My guess is that, could we see what He sees in us, we might find ourselves too, leaving our jars that sought nourishment in a thousand earthly things, because we had found a measure of life and dignity and identity and purpose that so vastly exceeded everything else, that our whole life had been reimagined to the colours of the imagination of God.
Reflect:
Ask the Spirit to reveal more to you of how the Father sees you. Wait, listen, receive.
Pray:
Lord Jesus,
My head can be down—
Busy amidst the chores and details of the day,
And yet, unaware of your impending
Interruption.
My head can be down—
Defined and limited by my flawed reputation,
Words that have bruised,
And past failures.
My head can be down—
Living a life that is small and anxious,
Timid and ill-defined—
Seeking temporary fulfilment while never quenching my truer thirst.
Lord Jesus,
Interrupt me;
Show me how you see me;
Show me the measureless grace that covers my shame,
That my life may become a running to my city,
Soaked with living waters,
Unto the accomplishment of your purposes,
And the beautiful inhabitation
Of what you see
In me.
Lord Jesus, in Your Name,
Amen
Old Testament:
For those also reading the Old Testament this year, your additional readings are here:
2 Chronicles 31-32 | Psalm 119:17-32