Satisfied?

On Sunday, Pastor Tony was preaching on Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42) and about being Satisfied. As Americans, it's really hard to be satisfied with anything, because there's always a bigger and better out there. But, what really struck me during his sermon was about the service that was taking place. Since serving others is my calling and, interestingly enough right now, my job description (Leadership & Service Coordinator), I was interested in the ways Jesus was serving this woman. So, here's a few thoughts...

Jesus went to the need. Where do you find those who are thirsty? At a well, of course. So Jesus (offering living water which satisfies instead of temporary physical water), goes to a well to find someone who is thirsty. He met the woman where she was, and he met the need even she didn't know she had. I love the idea of serving others where they are. So many times in church we think we need to bring people to us (or worse that people will just come to us), but Jesus knew that wasn't how things work. He went to them, he took the Word (himself) to them, and met their needs.

In this story, there are three types of people.
1) The woman. She's needy, but doesn't know it. She's a Samaritan (outcast or lower class). She's a woman (even further outcast or lower class). And she's had 5 husbands and is in an adulterous relationship. So, by my count, this woman has five strikes against her. Are we the Samaritan woman who can't see our own need for a Savior because we're too busy with our lives?

2) The disciples. They were off looking for food when Jesus started talking to this woman. They were very worried about the details. They even said, "Rabbi, eat something". It sounds like care and concern for Jesus' well-being, but He responds, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Are we too worried about the details of serving others when our focus should be on the living water?

3) Jesus. He was worried about the woman. He wasn't worried about eating or about his reputation. As a Jew, being seen with a Samaritan is bad enough, but a woman, who is an adulterer is a reputation that Jesus couldn't ever shake. And he didn't...even today he still has that reputation. We talk about Jesus hanging out with sinners, and she appears to be one of the first. So, his reputation was built on this encounter and many more like it. Are we too worried about associating with people that 'Christians shouldn't associate with'? But, on the other hand, isn't having a reputation of being like Jesus what we strive for?

One part of this story that I love is that Jesus attends to the spiritual through the physical. He started a conversation about water (physical) and used that to lead into the vital conversation about living water (spiritual). Because he saw the need, which created opportunity, the woman believed. Not only did she believe, but her town believed because of her testimony about Jesus. In the end, I think I'd like to be the mix of all three people in this story. Jesus whose heart saw the need and attended to it. The disciples whose hands showed care and concern. And the woman, whose voice told the testimony of her Lord and brought many to the feet of Jesus.