“The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?’ (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)” – John 4:9
When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman it shocked her. It violated social customs related to how men and women related in that time. More importantly, “proper” Jews never talked to Samaritans! To them, the only Good Samaritan was a dead Samaritan. The ethnic and religious differences between them led Jews to view Samaritans with utter contempt. Samaritans were view as something unclean and less than human. This hatred and contempt had fueled centuries of tension and violence.
In those days, the easy thing was simply to go along with these cultural attitudes, assumptions, and behaviors. However, Jesus doesn’t do “the easy thing”. He intentionally breaks those barriers and speaks to those He “shouldn’t”. He went to Samaria with a mission – to talk to this woman. He talked to this woman with a mission – her salvation and that of many of her Samaritan neighbors. Jesus didn’t just bring good news to those ethnically acceptable to His people. Jesus brought good news for every nation and ethnicity! Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead so that a new people could be brought together through the Gospel. A people united in Him in a way the world considers impossible. People who “should” hate each other but instead love one another because Jesus loves them.
Who is a “Samaritans” to you? Who are you reluctant or opposed to talk to, visit with, socialize with, or share the hope of Jesus with? Think carefully, because the world works very hard to divide us from other people made in God’s image. Most of us have Samaritans. What kind of person do you consider to be “them” instead of “us”? Jesus wants His people to cross over and engage with those around us who look different, sound different, act different, or believe different. Those who are different socially, economically, intellectually, or experientially. Those who speak with different accents, eat different food, or hold different citizenships. Those vote different, dress different, or worship different. They all need to know about Jesus and experience His love. Who is a Samaritan to you? Jesus wants you to go meet them. #FollowJesus