Several things stand out to me as I read this passage. First is the total humanity of Jesus. Those of us who have been in the church for a long time tend to think of Jesus as God, and in doing so minimize His authentic humanity. But Jesus ends up at this well not primarily because He is God on earth looking to do a miracle. He ends up there, we are told, because He like all people was tired from His journey. Tired and thirsty, Jesus seeks relief. To some this may not matter, but to me it is good to know that my Savior identifies with me…that when I get tired, hungry and need a break, He understands and relates to my human condition. He gets it in every sense of the word…how cool is that!
Second, Jesus know my hidden secrets. This woman comes face to face with a man who knows her public position, but also her private secrets. How foolish it would have been to try to hide her faults from Jesus. After all, He already knows them. The same is true for me. Every secret I hide He already knows. So, why hide them? If I bring them into the light, not only does He forgive, but they lose power over me. How cool is that!
Finally, Jesus welcomes all people. Even though He knows the faults of this woman, He is willing to give her life. She doesn’t need to go home and clean up her act, and then come back to receive life. Instead, she can receive life so that she can then go home and Jesus, through her, will clean things up. So we can come as we are to a Lord who knows our sins, feels our burdens, and gives us life. How cool is that!
In verse 23, how can the hour be coming and be here already at the same time?
ReplyDeleteGood question. I haven't studied that, but the word hour doesn't refer to time, but to a season of history. Therefore, Jesus is likely saying that a season of time is coming...and in fact that season is actually here... So, Jesus simply reinforces the fact that the season of salvation that they have been waiting for is now present within his ministry.
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