John 4 tells one of my favorites stories in revealing how Jesus broke all the rules (man made rules). When Jesus was going to Galilee he went through a Samaritan Town. Today that would be like going through a bad neighborhood where there was hatred on both sides. John clearly said in verse 9, "
Jews have no dealings with Samaritans". But Jesus ignored the years of hatred and looked at the heart. Jesus spoke, not only to a Samaritan, but to a woman!! And what a woman! First it says it was the 6th hour. This is around noon, and women drew water together in the early morning, before it got hot or the cool of the evening. This woman came alone, no friends to hang out at the water cooler! We also find out, this woman had had 5 husbands and now with living with someone. In her town she was a slut! The women hated her and the men looked down upon her. Jesus knew all of this. Her race, her lifestyle didn't stop Jesus from His mission to spread the gospel, the good news. To this woman, sinner, racially mixed person he shared His true identity of being the Messiah. The story continues to amaze me. This woman had just found the Messiah!! What joy she must have felt. The Messiah had reached out and touched her!! She could have ended there with happiness but she goes to the town. She goes to the people who hate her and wants them to come to Jesus. Verse 29 says, "
Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" Ah, smart woman. She already knew it was the Christ, but she knew if she told them, they would laugh and ignore her. She played the one down and asked them to determine for her if he was the Christ. Because of this woman, with questionable moral character verse 39 says,
"Many Samaritans from that town belived in Him..." And more amazing, He stayed with them TWO days! His disciples must have been blown away!! Jesus asks us to follow his example. Ignore the outside trappings of lifestyle, gender, and race and look at the heart. God wants us all to be His children.
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