Do you feel pretty inadequate, as a Gospel-Spreader?
In this retelling episode, we’re looking back to the story from John 4, where Jesus interrupts his trip to Galilee to have a conversation with the least likely Gospel-Spreader: A Samaritan woman who had been repeatedly divorced and was now living with another man.
John is the only Gospel writer to include this story. Why? He wants us to see that Jesus came for everyone, and that anyone can help share the good news.
Bible Passage: John 4:1-42
Referring Back to Episode: The Truth About Your Thirstiness for More with Mary Demuth
Transcript
Mentioned: Storyrunners with Cru.
Freebie: Live Like It’s True Workbook
Music: Cade Popkin Music
Retelling the Story of the Samaritan Woman
So in this “retelling” episode, we’re looking back to a story we talked about in one of our most popular episodes – a conversation with Mary DeMuth called, “The Truth About Your Thirstiness for More“. It’s a story about a woman who was thirsty, meeting the only one who could satisfy her: Jesus. He’s the only one who can satisfy us also.
In this retelling episode, I’ll start by retelling the story from John 4 so it’s fresh in your mind. I’ll use my own words and my own way of telling the story. Then we’ll talk through some of the story elements in this particular story. What was John, the author, trying to show us with this story?
Then I’ll close by retelling the story once more. I’d encourage you to see if you can retell the story, also – either after I tell it or pausing along the way. Stories are packed with rich theology and have power to transform our thinking and our lives. They’re easy to store up in our hearts and our minds, which I think is by design. It does take a little work, but once you’ve learned the story you have it with you, and you’re able to retrieve it for yourself and give it away to someone else.
A Surprising Conversation
So at the top and the beginning and end of this story, John mentions that Jesus is going to Galilee. John also alludes to there being some trouble with the Pharisees, and after the story John reminds us that Jesus has said that a prophet isn’t welcome in his own home town. So Galilee is where Jesus is from, and on the way there he insists on cutting through Samaria. Most Jew would have taken the long route, because of the racial tension between the Jews and the Samaritans. But not Jesus.
And then he has this long theological conversation with the least likely candidate. A Samaritan. But not just a Samaritan – a woman. And no just a woman, but a woman who is a social outcast. She’s been repeatedly divorced. She’s likely coming to this well at noon to avoid the crowds. And Jesus does the least likely thing: He talks to her.
In my conversation with Mary DeMuth I talked about how there were segregated water fountains before the civil rights movement. When Jesus asked this woman for a drink, it was like asking to use the wrong drinking fountain during segregation. Well, the woman is surprised and we should be, too.
Jesus is not who we think he is. And the responses to his ministry are also not what we’d expect. He’s the Messiah. The ones the Jews have been faithfully waiting for. There are prophesies and promises all throughout the old testament which all point to the coming Messiah. Well, now he’s here! And yet the religious leaders aren’t impressed with Jesus. They’re shunning him.
And in contrast, this woman is quite impressed with Jesus. Through the course of their conversation, he reveals to her, “I’m the one. I’m the Messiah you’ve been waiting for.” She drops her bucket, runs off to town and becomes the first missionary. Jesus says the fields are white. It’s time to harvest!
But here? Now? The juxtaposition is stunning. The Jews who are supposed to welcome Jesus are the ones who are blind to him. They reject and shun him. And the ones the Jews would walk twice the distance to avoid recognize Jesus, repent, and receive him.
Sharing the Story of Jesus
So what does this mean for us? Just like back then we tend to type cast people. But those who are the least likely are often the most open to Jesus and the gospel message. Also those who are the least likely messengers are the ones Jesus uses to spread the good news about himself. Think of the woman here in the story!
Do you ever struggle with sharing the story of God, and his gospel message with other people? Do you feel like you’re not sophisticated enough, or maybe that your life isn’t cleaned up enough to be able to tell others about God? If that’s the case, I invite you to take a look at this woman at the well, whom we’re about to see become one of the first missionaries. She is a non-Jewish woman who gets a glimpse at God’s storyline and immediately starts telling other people the good news.
As Jesus walks toward Jacob’s well in Samaria, his identity is largely hidden. The majority of the people don’t realize that he is the Messiah. He is God, who has become flesh. And even more people have no idea that he has come, not just for the Jewish people, but for all people. It’s a mystery, Paul calls it, which has not yet been revealed. (Eph. 3:6)
And yet, it’s being disclosed, here at this well. The secret is being shared. The mystery is being whispered. The truth is being told. The treasure of the gospel is being spread out before the eyes of—not a theologian who has studied the scrolls and lived a pure and honorable life. No, the identity of Jesus, and the mystery of the gospel is being shared with a thirsty woman from Samaria.
Feeling Inadequate as a Gospel-Sharer?
I was recently in an audience, where a theologian was giving an address that made the Gospel seem very complicated and sophisticated and inaccessible to simple people. As I drove home, I didn’t feel a new sense of wonder and awe at the gospel—but rather a new doubt and confusion. Who did I think I was, teaching the Bible to women? How in the world could I possibly understand? Only people with PhDs and brilliant minds could unlock the ancient text of the Bible and be skilled enough to share it with others. For a moment, I felt scared and even ashamed.
And then I remembered the woman at the well. She wasn’t a sophisticated woman. She didn’t have a PhD. She wasn’t someone you’d think of as an obvious choice for the Messiah to reveal his identity to. She wasn’t the first one you’d think of as a missionary candidate. But to God, she was the perfect choice! Why? Because she was thirsty.
If you feel inadequate or ill equipped, as one of God’s storytellers, remember the woman at the well. She had a theological conversation with Jesus that was longer than any other conversation recorded in the Bible. And after just that one conversation, she went and began telling her story, which was now part of the story of God.
Will you do the same?
Love this so much, Shannon! Thank you.