“The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.[b] She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” –John 4:9-10
There are so many reasons we divide ourselves as a people. Often, we choose to see our differences as our only defining traits. At times, we only see our racial differences, our cultural differences, our religious differences, or our economic differences and we allow them to define who we associate with. Sadly, when we define ourselves by our differences we miss so many special connections, friendships and blessing from the rich diversity of people in God’s great kingdom.
The story of the woman at the well in John’s Gospel demonstrates the importance of being willing to encounter others who are different from ourselves. John tells us that Jesus is resting from his travels at Jacobs well. While he was there a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. Jesus asked her for a drink. Her reply shows the great division between the Jews and Samaritans. She did not offer him a drink, instead she replies, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” In that moment, where so many possibilities existed, the woman only saw their differences.
Thankfully, the story does not end with her question. Jesus continues to converse with the woman and she quickly finds that he is much more than what she originally thought. Her time with Jesus becomes a life-giving and life-defining moment for her. Her life was blessed because they did not allow their differences to define their interaction and end their relationship before it even began.
I wonder how often we miss out on special moments in our lives because we don’t engage with other people who are different from us. When we are willing to see past our differences we open our lives up to wonderful possibilities. That day, at Jacob’s well, two people found a great blessing in a relationship not defined by differences, but by the love and grace of God. There is great joy is getting to know all of God’s wonderful people.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
