September 18

Crashing Barriers


Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink." He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refused to have anything to do with Samaritans.

John 4:7-9 (NLT)


When Jesus physically walked this earth, many considered Him a maverick. In reality, He was the fulfillment of the law and God’s greatest expression of love.

Here, as in so many other places, Jesus breaks the restrictive molds of tradition, culture and race in an act of compassioanate love. Once again, He shows the Father’s purpose for His life as He reaches out to the unlovely, the unwanted, the castoff.

Time and again, He reveals His openness to all—not some. Here, He reaches out to, of all people, a woman … a Samaritan … and someone who would have been considered a very sinful person. As the situation unfolds, the woman is attracted to Jesus’ loving proclamation of truth. Their conversation moves from the everyday to the eternal—while her comments are guarded, His revelation is direct. Truth spoken lovingly, directly brought change—real, life-rattling change—to a woman whose former life had been rough, misdirected and empty.

It’s a lesson for me and for all Christ Followers. It's a lesson to ignore, or perhaps crash, the barriers standing between us and people in need. There is no reason a person should not receive God's love, God's charity, God's Good News through us except one—their choice … not ours.


Father, give me opportunity to show love and to share as Jesus did—kindly, honestly and with great compassion. Amen.