Dannette I’ve been wrapped up in the story of the women at the well (John 4:1-28). Reminded of the time I was deep in the study of water and community, and God’s pursuit of the lonely, broken and shamed.
We talked about it a few months back on the podcast, episode #71 if you want to listen. It’s one of my favorites; a mash of up creation, God’s word and how He’s still HERE. Resting on the wells we wander by today. We’re thirsty, and we’re carrying our shame, our hurts, and all the walls we’ve built trying to keep them hidden. And there He is. Sitting right next to the empty vessel we’re straining to down, just waiting for us drink from Him.
One of the most heartbreaking realities in this story is the Samaritan woman alone and hiding in her shame. Maybe it’s the stream of stories that are being brought to the light in our country right now. Women who carry these past hurts and injustices, finally stepping foot onto the well’s platform and giving voice to the trauma that has shackled them their entire life. I celebrate that because I believe part of healing is bringing the darkness into the light. I won’t hesitate to throw my fist in the air and stand beside any woman brave enough to step toward that because I truly believe THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.
Jesus even said it in John 8:32. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
But the truth He spoke of was infinitely MORE than what can be tagged on social media or said in a court room. The realest and truest freedom comes in Jesus. Not from just giving voice to the injustices and the hurt, but by receiving what Jesus offers us. And He offers us himself, the living water. He’s there waiting at the empty wells of our lives, offering more than any earthly trial could ever win for us. That’s where true FREEDOM and justice are, my friends.
The Samaritan woman had her own story of hurt and shame, and I’m guessing we don’t know the half of it. What we do know is that she came to the well HIDING. In that time it was customary to draw your water in morning, when it was the coolest. Not the 6th hour like she did, when the sun was scorching and no one was around. The Samaritan was so shamed and cast out that she avoided everyone at all costs. And this is what sucks the air out of my lungs. This poor woman. The shame she carried. The rejection and judgment of those around her. It’s palpable, isn’t it?
Then she meets Jesus. A man who her culture said was above her in every way. He shouldn’t have been associating with her. In fact, even just speaking to her would have brought his character into question. But Jesus doesn’t care about the lines society draws in the sand. He’s not here to throw stones at us for our failures and sin. He’s also not here to throw them at the people who commit them against us. Instead he stoops low and cuts thru the walls of the heart with a simple, gentle gesture. He ask for a drink. He throws all political correctness and cultural stigmas aside, and in love, looks the hurting soul right in the eye.
What He’s after is OUR HEARTS. He wants to meet us in our need, just like the Samaritan woman. He wants to talk with us, hear from us — show us He sees and loves us. NOT SHAME US. He doesn’t accuse and stomp all over this woman because of her sin. He asks her questions and pulls at her heart strings, not spending time dwelling on the ugly details. Instead He pursues her graciously. And He does the same for us. Whatever the circumstance, Jesus wants to meet us at the well and set us free.
But in order to bring us out of hiding, he needs our repentence. Just like the Samaritan woman. She was doing her best to avoid the trouble in her soul. She skirted around Jesus’ question about where her husband was and tried to keep up the facade. When Jesus asked the question, He knew the answer. But He wanted her to name it. He wasn’t doing it to heap shame; he was doing it to set her free. But she told a half truth — “I have no husband.”
Thankfully God didn’t leave her there hiding, and He won’t leave us there either. He will never stop coming after us, nudging us to bring the dark areas into the light.
In John 4:23 we read that the true worshipers will worship in spirit and in truth. I think in a way, Jesus wants our truth. He is THE truth, we all know that. But I believe He also wants to deal with the secret places of our lives. The ones that are locked and sealed up tight; all those sins and hurts that we tell half truths about and don’t want to bring into the daylight. We all have them, those bits and pieces of shame we don’t want anyone to see or know are there.
And so, Jesus is there waiting. Sitting next to the well of our darkness, offering to fill it with light. And there’s more to it than just telling your story and giving a voice to your pain. It’s in the meeting and partaking of Jesus, the living water. It’s the ONLY way to be healed, my friends. It’s the only way to be whole. It’s the only way a Samaritan woman walking to the well alone and ashamed and hiding can be set free, leaving her empty vessel behind.
