 |
 |
Devotions Archive
Archive:
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
Poured into your lapSunday, March 19, 2017
From John 4 Jesus gently exposed the woman's need as she filled his cup. "Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst." She laughed and pretended to take him seriously. "Give me some of that water." Jesus knew her heart. "Go and call your husband." "I don't have a husband," she said. "But you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband." There it was. Right out there for all to see. Jesus' words uncovered her, but she was not ashamed, perhaps because Jesus had showed her his own need. In their mutuality, they were freed to share more important parts of themselves. Jesus offered her "worship in Spirit and truth." She trusted her bursting heart suddenly full of joy, and ran shouting to the people she lived with, "Come! See a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?" Jesus' exhaustion vanished. His disciples returned with food, but Jesus had already been fed. He laid out God's spiritual feast which included both living water and "food to eat of which you do not know ... crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together." In his moment of need, Jesus opened his hands and gave all he had. Pressed down, shaken together and running over. In return, his friend the Samaritan woman could also give her all. What a joy, to share our need and discover how much we have to give. Open your hands and see. Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water and calmed the sea. I can trust the man who asked for a drink and then poured living water straight into my soul. Your bucket, Lord, never runs dry. Your pitcher keeps on pouring, and pouring, and pouring out the water of life. You never hold back; you are never afraid to give everything you have. You want to show me how to be just this way. Let me learn, let me want to learn from you the way of life. |
Why did Jesus ask her for water, rather than getting it himself? He surprised the woman, accustomed as she was to political and religious prejudice. I imagine Jesus' eyes, looking deeply into hers. He said very little at first. We always listen more closely when the words are few.