For the Oneनमुना

Day 3: The Samaritan Woman

Dr. Russell Moore is the executive director of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. On his podcast, he shared the true story of when he was a little boy in Mississippi. The Sunday school teacher scolded him for putting a quarter in his mouth and she said, “You do not know where that quarter has been; it could have been in a colored man’s hand.” That is so very sad. Dr. Moore said they also hypocritically sang this song, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.”

Jesus loved and loves all people. When you read the New Testament, you read of how He gave value to everyone He met—the rich and poor, those of different gender, race, backgrounds; He loved all people and died for the sins of all that we might be forgiven and live eternally with Him.

John 4 is one of the great texts that deal with Jesus’ ministry to the “one.” It is a powerful account of how Christ engaged in dialogue with a person who was a different gender and race than him, as well as one who held different theological convictions. It is a masterful example from which we can learn a great deal. 

The longest dialogue recorded in the Bible between Jesus and another human being is found in John 4. It is so interesting to me that this conversation was with a woman and a dreaded Samaritan at that! But Jesus did not show prejudice or discriminate against people. He knew that everyone needed help and needed to be restored to the God who created them. Jesus steered a conversation with her and reached out to her because He cared for her soul.

Like many people in our country today, this woman had a religious knowledge or background but was not practicing her religion. G. Campbell Morgan writes in The Great Physician, “She presents the picture of the condition of thousands of people today. They have a religious background, perchance some problem dismissed, and it may be some hope accepted, but having no practical bearing on life.” Or as a man once told me, he was a member of the largest church in America—a non-practicing Catholic. 

Three truths that we learn in John 4 from Jesus and His encounter with the Samaritan woman are that we need to love all people, talk to all people, and give hope to all people. Jesus is the perfect role model.

1. Love all people. 

Our church is located in zip code 78759, one of the most educated and affluent areas in our country. There is a vast difference, however, in the people who make up this zip code—some are very educated and affluent, while others are very poor and uneducated. Though the people are different and come from various socio-economic backgrounds, they are still people who need the Lord Jesus. We must reach out to the down and out, those like the Samaritan lady, and also the up and out, people like Nicodemus. 

Part of being a missional church is to love all, show no partiality, and take the gospel to all. From Austin to Africa, from Texas to Tijuana—it is imperative to follow the example and commandment of Jesus and shine the Light of Truth to all.

2. Talk to all people.

Note that Jesus was not too tired or occupied to share with this woman. We often get preoccupied with our own needs or troubles and maybe even physically exhausted. When this happens, we look inward and do not have time for others. Allow me to ask you, as well as myself, a hard question—how much has to be going right in your life before you will share Christ with someone else? 

Some Christians argue that they will just live good moral lives, and that will be their witness. However, people may think you are a Muslim or Buddhist or a good and moral atheist. But when you open your mouth and give testimony to Jesus Christ, that erases all doubt. Just “living a good moral life” is not the method of Jesus. Jesus spoke to people.

3. Offer hope to all people.

You and I have the Holy Spirit living in us and we have the cure to the cancer of the soul called sin. Our job is to love people and offer them Jesus. One of the neat ways to do this is by offering to pray with people, as that will help open up conversations. And then let the Holy Spirit use you and help you. 

This Samaritan woman, like Hagar in Genesis 16 and Rahab the harlot in Joshua 2, had a tough past. These women made mistakes and yet they found in God the God who loves and forgives. No one is beyond the reach of God’s saving arm.

Questions:

1. How willing are you to follow Jesus’ example and share the gospel with those who are very different from you?

This question really hits home and convicts me, so I will ask you: how much has to be going right in your life before you will share Christ with someone else?