Woman Interrupted

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “he told me everything I ever did.” John 4:39 NIV

Jesus confronted the woman at the well. There were many odd things about this event. First, that he came to the well when she did. She’d been scorned by her village for her unholy union. She’d had five husbands and now lived with a man not her husband. She went to the well alone because no one offered her anything but hatred. Even by today’s loose standards, this woman might be fodder for gossip. Secondly, Jesus talked to the woman. She had been used to people turning their heads and pretending they did not know her. Then Jesus did something even more amazing. He told her about herself. He did not point a finger at her and cry out for all to hear, “Sinner!” No, he pointed out her current situation to show her life had something better in store. When Jesus confronts, he does not condemn. He opens a door to abundant living. She no longer needed the degradation. She cast it off. And her joy rippled through the village like a contagion. I wonder. If she were at our well today, who of the village would I represent? Would I be one who chided or avoided? Or would I put an arm around her and point her to a new direction?