Women at the Well

Most of us are familiar with the story of the woman at the well detailed in John 4. I recommend reading the entire story, but here is the last part:

"“You have correctly said, ‘I don’t have a husband,’ ” Jesus said.“For you’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” "Sir,” the woman replied, “I see that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, yet you ⌊Jews⌋ say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus told her, “Believe Me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him.God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ ). “When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” “I am ⌊He⌋,” Jesus told her, “the One speaking to you.”Just then His disciples arrived, and they were amazed that He was talking with a woman. Yet no one said, “What do You want? ” or “Why are You talking with her? ” Then the woman left her water jar, went into town, and told the men, Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could this be the Messiah? ” They left the town and made their way to Him." John 4:17-30

There are so many parts of this story that speak to me. What stands out the most is how this woman was scorned in her society. She was not the woman you wanted to be seen having conversation. She was the one you would have nodded to and indicated for her to meet you out back to talk so nobody would know you knew her. And yet Jesus is not phased in the least by her. He knows who she is and what she does. He cleverly calls out her sin by telling her to go get her husband and then telling her He knows all about her lifestyle. In today's society Jesus would have said, "You are right. You have a "friend."

I volunteer with a ministry here in Charlotte that focuses on women much like the woman at the well. Part of the ministry is to women who work in strip clubs. My friend is one of these women. She was telling me about a conversation she had last night with another girl at the club. She was telling her about Jesus because this other woman was saying she did not believe in Jesus because He had taken away her son (he had died). She also shared how she had a long conversation with one of the men in the club. This was also about God. It struck me how my friend is very much like this woman at the well. Those who know her are well aware of her profession. In fact, most church people avoid those like her. Or maybe they have compassion, yet say they would not know what to say to her. I am told this regarding going into the strip clubs to talk to the women there. Yet, if we have Christ in us, then shouldn't we be able to do all He did and more? If he could have a conversation with the woman at the well, then should we not be able to see the beauty and value of the modern day women at the well?

Just like this woman, my friend has encountered Jesus and she tells everyone about Him and what He has done. Her listeners are aware of her profession and what she does, and yet she is there witnessing to them. I think of how many of us are in church every Sunday. We serve regularly. We show up on a volunteer day at the soup kitchen or give a dollar to the guy holding a cardboard sign. But how many of us refrain from sharing our faith at work for fear of offending someone? My friend is still very young in her faith. Yet God is working in her life in a way that she can't deny and can't stop herself from sharing.

When was the last time you shared your faith with someone outside of the church walls? Do your coworkers know what you believe? Have they heard your story? What are you afraid will happen if you tell them what Jesus has done for you and in your life? I challenge each of you this week to share your faith with someone whom you have not shared before. I would love to hear your stories!