Breaking Down BarriersSample

‘It was necessary to pass through Samaria.’

How was it necessary? Samaria was in between Judea and Galilee, but it wasn’t the easiest route to take, especially if you’re starting in the lowlands near the river Jordan. Going north along the Jordan Valley and then west into the mountains of Galilee would be an easier path.

So why did Jesus have to pass through Samaria?

It was necessary because it was God’s will. Jesus’ message must go beyond the community that it began in. Jesus was preaching His message in Judea and Galilee. If any Samaritans were going to hear it, it wasn’t going to be because they were visiting the Temple in Jerusalem, or a synagogue in Capernaum. Their social identity as Samaritans was a barrier to the good news. Jesus had to pass through Samaria because the Samaritans weren’t going to bring themselves to Jesus.

We don’t bring ourselves to Jesus, but Jesus brings Himself to us. Jesus came from heaven, giving up splendour and comfort for a life amongst us that would lead to the cross. He shares His life with us to save us from sin and death and bring us into an eternal friendship with the Father, but He also shares His life with us so that His work of restoring people’s relationship to the Father will grow and expand. He shares His life with us, He shares His plan with us, and He shares the Holy Spirit with us so that our contribution to His plan will be made with His power.

Just as Jesus was sent by the Father, so He sends us now. The Church is the ‘Body of Christ’, crossing cultural chasms to bring the good news to new communities. We can’t just wait for people to come to us. We can’t just rely on inviting people to visit our churches. Will people come on their own? Like Jesus who saves us and sends us, we need to recognise that it’s necessary to bring ourselves to those who haven’t heard.

In the next few days, we’ll look at how Jesus sows good news and reaps faith, but first, what barriers are there to you bringing the good news?