Private Conversation

For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. (John 4:8)

At first glance it would seem that there is nothing to notice about this text. They were traveling together, it was hot and they were all likely tired. Jesus, for whatever reasons may have been, or at least appeared to be, more tired than the rest of them and chose to rest by the well at high noon while the disciples all went into town to get food and bring it back for lunch.

And while some people may object to reading into the Bible inferences that don't seem obvious, I have been learning that a person with an open mind and even more importantly an open heart can receive many insights from the Holy Spirit that can apply to life and understanding God's ways in all sorts of unlikely places throughout the Bible. The Bible is simply overflowing with rich revelations about reality and about God's ways of dealing and thinking, most of which go unnoticed or more likely misapplied by those who fail to listen to the Spirit with a humble, teachable attitude.

The Jews in Jesus' day had this problem so systemically that even the somewhat illiterate disciples most of the time missed the real meaning and point of nearly everything that Jesus was about while He was with them. They were so sure that they had the broad outline of religion clear in their minds as learned from the religion that they grew up in, that anything that didn't fit into those assumptions usually slipped right past them. It was not until their own world view of reality was shattered and a completely new perception of what life was all about took its place around the time of Pentecost that they were able to perceive with new eyes and new hearts the much deeper meanings of everything Jesus had done and said.

The problem still remains the same. Most people are unwilling to challenge their own religious assumptions and prejudices. If something doesn't fit very well into our preconceived ideas then it is assumed to be irrelevant or wrong. This is one of the greatest hindrances to receiving the truth because it disables the mind and heart from being willing to see things from heaven's perspective. It assumes that religion as we have known it to be is the standard that must be guarded and used as a filter for all new information.

I am finding it very useful to ask lots of questions as I read. And I find that if I am willing to lay aside my preconceived ideas to some extent while being careful to guard my spirit from cynicism or unbelief that the Spirit is eager and always ready to impart wisdom and insights to anyone willing to synchronize with that Spirit. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is crucial to properly opening the Word of God to the mind and without it any number of alternative but confusing suppositions begin to be believed. They often can sound very compelling but they lack the consistency with the revelations about God's true character that is needed to fit them into the proper place in the larger picture of reality.

The questions that I ask this morning is,

What might it have been like if maybe some of the disciples had chosen to stay with Jesus instead of going into town?

Would it have been possible for Jesus to have the most sensitive discussion with this vulnerable woman if anyone else had been present?

And if so, how much more clearly would the disciples who might have stayed been able to perceive the real truth about Jesus? Or would they have misunderstood even then the profound interchange between Jesus and this woman?

Evidently, this story must have been relayed to the disciples at some later point, possibly just before or after Pentecost. This woman may well have been part of the body of believers after Jesus returned to heaven. On the other hand, after the dramatic transformation of the whole city a few minutes later, it would seem that at least some of that original discussion may have become known to them simply from their asking around about what had precipitated such an electrifying turn of events.

In any case, it seems to me that there may be significant things to learn from the fact that there were no disciples present when Jesus had His encounter with this woman that so transformed her view of life. They missed the first-hand opportunity to witness the heart-work that Jesus so skillfully performed in this situation. They witnessed the after-effects but they could only learn second-hand what had caused a whole town to suddenly change their attitudes and perceptions toward a group of Jews that normally they would hate.

I also wonder about similar situations today. Is it possible that sometimes Jesus has to wait until all the religious people with their entrenched preconceptions are out of sight before He can effectively speak to the hearts of some individuals? It is possible that maybe even in church it is extremely difficult for some people to hear the voice of God because of the presence of prejudice and assumptions about religion that keep some from hearing the voice of God?

I believe that God desires to connect with His people corporately when possible. But I also see many times where it is very hard to hear messages from God in what we assume to be the body of Christ in the denominational church setting. Our assumption is often that our local church is God's chosen group through which He is supposed to convey His will to us. Yet the very word denomination denotes division, separation, even prejudice. Nearly every denomination claims to be God's chosen people and to have the right truth apart from the others. Yet every church I have attended has many blocks that inhibit some people's ability to feel free to open up to God and become transparent in their life.

This woman's reaction to her encounter with Jesus was stunning – really. When she later went into town and simply exclaimed, “Come, see a man who told me everything I have ever done!” the effect on the town was electrifying. And even though technically Jesus had not actually detailed everything that this woman had done throughout her lifetime, the transparency that she experienced in the presence of this God-man who had revealed Himself to her as the Savior of all mankind was nothing short of shocking. It was this shock factor that grabbed the attention of the townspeople and it will be this same kind of transparency that will get our attention today whenever someone encounters Jesus like this woman did.

Most people are afraid of transparency. They want to be very guarded about their inner life just as this woman was when she first began talking with Jesus. And I guess the question still remains open, could this have turned this way with the same results if anyone else had been present during this interchange between Jesus and this well-known sinner who was afraid of nearly everyone at this point in her life?

One more point that I notice about this story. Just as Jesus expressed some of His most profound statements about God to this woman alone, in the last chapter He expressed some of the most profound teachings about the Kingdom of God to a man alone at night without any other witnesses. It seems that Jesus was ready to meet people alone and open things to them that may not be so easy to do when there are more people around.

Sitting Thus by the Well - 2

and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6)

Maybe it is because my mind has been cogitating on this for a few days. Or maybe God wanted to offer me another insight – or both. I woke up earlier than usual this morning with a distinct feeling that God was inviting me to get up and spend more time with Him than I have been for several days. Lately I have been a bit rushed in my devotional time because of work schedules, tiredness etc. As a result I have started noticing an increase of spiritual hunger inside of me that must not go unnoticed or unaddressed.

So, maybe as a way to help motivate me to get up, I internally heard something about this word that I wrote about a few days ago and have been pondering. I have been wondering why it says here that Jesus was sitting thus by the well. Well, upon reflection it seems quite obvious now what this can mean from the words just previous – He was tired!

Interesting. Jesus was not living as a superhero who always had the advantages and was never in a position of needing to receive help for Himself. This is much more than just a theological explanation about the physicalness of Jesus and the fact that He was able to get tired like everyone else. Jesus was very possibly so exhausted from the walking, from the heat of the day and, in addition the emotional drain of being misunderstood and misrepresented by the religious leaders where He was just leaving that He absolutely had to collapse by the well and wait for His disciples to go into the village to get some nourishment for all of them because He was simply too tired to move another step.

From this perspective I can now see Jesus looking completely drained and sitting against the well trying to get what little shade might possibly be found at high noon, which probably wasn't much. It is quite evident to anyone looking at Him that He is very tired and in such a state is actually very vulnerable. This is interesting because we don't typically think of Jesus as appearing vulnerable most of the time. But then why is this? Jesus Himself made it very clear in another place that the way we treat the most vulnerable in society is how He considers that we treat Him. (Matt. 25:31-46)

It was in this position of obvious vulnerability that the woman – who was also quite vulnerable herself – found Him as she approached the well to get water at a most inconvenient time of the day for her. She was a vulnerable person who felt ostracized by the rest of the people of her village; she was one who didn't trust anyone any more, especially men. So when she arrived on the scene, God knew that she would not be attracted to engage in conversation with a man who looked confident, self-assured or even “normal”. Because of her deep fears and suspicions and her own history of broken relationships and quite possibly even abuse, the only way she might open up to listen to what God wanted to share with her about Himself was to be have opportunity to connect with someone who appeared as weak and vulnerable as she was.

As I ponder this I am moved at the heart level with the awesomeness of a God who is not just willing but eager to connect with me right where I am emotionally and spiritually. He does not insist that I get my life together better before He is willing to be my friend. He can do that within me if I allow Him to later by His transforming grace. But right now He is more than willing to disguise Himself in the form of a helpless stranger in desperate need of assistance in order to deliver the very blessings and help that I myself need.

Of course, if I look at it this way that can also be a very frightening proposition as well. From that perspective I very well may be missing many opportunities to encounter God in the person of the most vulnerable when I fail to relate to them because of my own pride or my prejudice or fear of what others might think of me. It also strongly implies that He very well may want to use me to reach others by appearing vulnerable to them. But feeling vulnerable is not exactly high on my list of desirable situations to experience around others.

The ensuing interaction between Jesus and this vulnerable woman of Sychar has proven to be one of the most profound exchanges and revelations of light and truth in all of the Bible. Jesus ended up being more open with her in the simple discussion that followed than nearly anyone else that He talked to in person. This woman was entrusted with core truth, a key of sorts that has intrigued and stimulated people interested in deeper spirituality and a closer connection with God for centuries since that day. But the scene was set up by Jesus allowing Himself to become so vulnerable and exhausted that He could be approached by someone who likewise felt all too vulnerable herself. Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well...

I sense that I need to learn a great deal from this simple verse. I don't enjoy being vulnerable. I prefer to feel confident, strong, bold and even a little assertive at times. Like the Jews, I like to think of a God who is strong and in charge, not a God who appears impotent and vulnerable. And yet over and over again in Scripture I find a God who puts Himself into the place of the weakest and tends to identify with the most vulnerable among us and calls us to find Him and relate to Him there. This does not fit neatly into the religion that is popular today, but it seems to be the direction that must be followed if I am to discover the kind of incredible insights and experience the kind of heart relationship with God that this woman was privileged to experience later in this story.

The profound words about God and about true worship that later come out in this story have captured my attention for a number of years. The necessary involvement of both spirit and truth needed to experience true worship of God has riveted my attention over and over and kept me searching for that kind of true worship in my own life. Now, what I am seeing in this one little word thus helps me to better understand the context in which these words were spoken. And the context, the scene, the emotions and setting and “props” if you please, that creates the atmosphere for this revelation about God is becoming more clear to me.

Father, I want to praise You for waking me up this morning to share more of Your heart with me. You have already spoken a number of things to my mind and my heart and I want to thank You for being willing to meet me where I am in my own problems and fears and issues. You know far better than I do the many misconceptions about You that still keep me afraid of trusting You fully. You know the pain and abuse that I have suffered in the name of religion that has terribly distorted and limited my ability to trust You and receive Your love for me as I need to.

You also know the spiritual pride that strangles my ability to hear You as well as I need to and I ask You to continue to heal me of that especially. I want to live in open, free, joyful communion with You and be willing and humble enough to relate to You in the person of the most vulnerable and unattractive ones that You put into my life. As I have been praying already this morning, I want to be filled with the joy of Your salvation in my life and my heart. I want to know You at a much deeper level than ever before. I want that intimacy that You have been talking to me about for so many years now. I want You to live and dwell and be in full authority inside of my heart so that Your beauty and attractions can be seen in the way that I relate to others.

Father, I have felt Your convictions about my discontent with some of the people I associate with and do things with. I have wished that I could have relationships and interactions with people who are more “with it”, who have more of the personalities or skills and abilities that I enjoy. But You have been reminding me that these people are in my life for a reason and if I will allow You to, You will use me to not only bless them through me but may even surprise me with fresh revelations about Yourself through them.

Thank-you for Your word and for Your Spirit that is always ready and eager to reveal Your heart to me through Your word. Thank-you for leading me, for attracting me to Your heart over the past few years. I also ask that You intensify a deep hunger to know You not only in my own heart but in the hearts of every member of my own family, my siblings and those I know in my local church and other fellowships. Please send Your Spirit to awaken and stir within our hearts a desire to really know You with a level of desperation that cannot be ignored. Send a revival of genuine godliness so that we can see more clearly the real truth about Your love.

Obedience or More?

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36)

This verse touches something inside of me that has been coming to my attention lately that needs to be dealt with internally. It is a trigger that is ignited spontaneously in my mind anytime certain words related to obedience or law or some such related issue is mentioned. As a result of my legalistic upbringing and because most of society around me, even secular society is filled with legalistic thinking and attitudes, this concept for me is a strong trigger point.

Most people assume that this means I need to be forced to submit to authority and have my rebellious spirit broken. And while it is certainly true that I need to become free of a spirit of rebellion, I believe it is becoming clearer to those who choose to think carefully, that breaking the spirit of an individual, even an animal, is the wrong way to bring about a healthy relationship with that individual. It may produce external conformity and compliance, but it cannot result in a deep love relationship or freedom at the heart level.

This verse keeps bringing me back to this issue every morning since it is right in the middle of the section of verses I am contemplating lately. So this morning I decided to take a closer look at this and look up the original words in the Greek to see what they really mean. As I thought, the word translated not obey is in essence the very opposite from the word translated believes. However, because of the English usage of these words is so different than in the original languages it is actually impossible to properly express these two words from the original so simplistically in our language.

The first word actually is closely related to what we usually term faith or belief. But this faith is much deeper and more active than simply an intellectual exercise, opinion, belief system or even religious prejudice. This is the kind of faith that works itself out in natural expression in the life because of the heart's synchronization with the heart of the object of that faith. It can best be described as the loyal relationship of a person who is coming to trust more and more the integrity, transparency and worthiness of the other person so much so that they are willing to make confident choices based on the reliableness of the other person. This kind of faith is so sure and trusting in the other that it is willing to take great risks based on what is believed about the other.

The second word in the Greek translated variously not obey or not believe in various versions of the Bible, is about as opposite a word as can be produced. It is the very essence of the opposite of the first word. So all the nuances implied about the trust and confidence embedded in the word for believe are just the opposite in the person who disbelieves. Included in that is the idea of a deliberate choice, not just ignorance. This verse is not referring to a lack of belief due to a lack of awareness or knowledge. The original word strongly indicates that this is a situation of willful unbelief even to the point of perverseness. This is choosing to not believe in the face of evidence and awareness of the trustworthiness of the other person. Hence, it will also be evident in this condition that unbelief will include a lack of synchronization with God or what is commonly called disobedience.

Ironically this kind of disobedience can actually be masked by the appearance of obedience when that obedience is intended to make it look like a person is in compliance with the rules and laws in place. This is really a part of the essence of legalism, trying to comply with all the rules in order to establish the appearance of a relationship without having the heart transformed and synchronized with the heart of the trustworthy Lawgiver. It is like trying to keep up the appearance of a good marriage by complying with all the formulas laid out by experts while failing to become intimately connected emotionally or becoming vulnerable to one's spouse. Many marriages are in fact in this condition and from the outside everyone thinks that they are very healthy. But when the truth is revealed it can be seen that the marriage is only superficial and is maintained more for convenience or to maintain a comfort zone or to keep others from talking instead of for real love.

The truth involved in having a real marriage that is healthy is actually the closest thing God has given us to understand the kind of even deeper relationship that we need to have with Him if we are to enjoy this eternal life talked about in this verse. In essence, this verse is saying that if we want to have eternal life we must have the kind of relational, responsive, trusting faith in the Son of God that will express itself through every part of our life and our decisions. And in contrast to that, anyone who deliberately chooses to turn away from His invitation to have this kind of relationship with Him will not see life. And since the only alternative to life is death and all that goes with it like pain, fear, suffering, anger and the rest of the descriptions of sin, then this condition will be the result of that choice.

So it is not nearly so shallow as sometimes it first appears when reading this text. The implications of this verse are about as profound as profound gets. This is at the very heart of the choice that everyone of us has to face in our life.

As I become aware of the real truth about God and His offer of salvation for me through the life and ministry of Jesus, I am forced by this awareness to make decisions about how I am going to relate to Him. And behind my choices will lie the beliefs that I really hold at the heart level about how God feels about me. If I believe things that are not true about Him but that feel true to me about God's attitudes and treatment of me, then I may likely pull away in fear and look for alternative ways to find life or hope or strength for myself. But if I choose to trust His heart even when I cannot understand it, I will enter into a relationship with Him that will transform my own heart and I will experience the effect of being changed by the grace that is ever-present to restore me to wholeness, peace and joy.