Responding as Jesus Would

1 John 4:9 from the Bible to accompany blog post from New Hope Presbyterian Church in Castle Rock, CO

"Why do you, a Jewish man, ask for something to drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" (Jews and Samaritans didn't associate with each other.) John 4:9 

 

Few statements summarize the limits of religion, or the target of Jesus’ ministry, better. The encounter is known as “The Woman at the Well,” but it might be better titled, “How Religion Succeeds at Leaving Thirsty People Thirsty.”  

 

She was right; Jesus should not be talking to her.  She was a woman, a Samaritan, and a social pariah. Religious logic dictated Jesus should have ignored her and left her alone. But Jesus didn’t come to ignore people, and any religious justification for doing so only contributed to the problem he came to address.  

 

Jesus was aware of the woman’s identity, but he also saw something more. 

Her True Identity went beyond her gender, nationality, culture, choices, and reputation. Jesus saw someone who, at her core, was beloved of God and thirsty for more than water.  

 

Bad Religion divides people into categories of who is- or isn’t, acceptable. The more it succeeds, the more people are excluded and alone. Jesus didn’t see an unacceptable woman, just someone who was thirsty.  

 

Question: 

What practices help you see and respond to people the same way as Jesus?

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