so that you may have life

Text: John 4:1-29

When I read the story of Jesus and the woman at the well, I see so much of myself in her.  I wish the woman had a name in this story, but I think it’s intentional that she doesn’t.  It is so easy to read these verses and have empathy for “this poor woman.”

But what if this woman was you.

What if the shame she wears, visible to all in her community, is your shame?

I often wonder if she chose her times at the well strategically: knowing when she would most likely be alone.

No judgment from a stranger.
No shame as she faces another.
No disgusted looks or rude comments.

What do you think went through her mind as she approached the well and saw Jesus sitting there?
I believe she wanted to continue hiding—hoping he wouldn’t take notice of her arrival at the well.
As we read on about her story, it’s clear that she is hiding, a prisoner of her shame.

Shame: a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety {source}
There is a big lie that accompanies the feeling of shame: it is a lie that one must remain silent and keep the guilt inside.

Don’t let people close.

Stay silent.

But what I love about Jesus is that He doesn’t allow these lies to continue.

He not only notices the woman, but he asks a pointed question that forces the woman to speak truth to her shame—for her silence to be no more.  [v. 16-17]
He replaces her shame with a fresh start.
He replaces her silence with truth.
He takes the temporary fixes—the water that quenches our immediate thirst—and replaces it with living water.

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” [V. 13-14, ESV]

Sisters, He wants to give you new life.  He hurts when He sees you–His cherished daughter–locked in the chains of shame.

Take time today to end the silence of whatever you’re carrying.  Speak truth and lay it at His feet: just as you are.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. [John 10:10, ESV]