John 4:27-42 (NLT)
Just then his disciples arrived. They were astonished to find him talking to a woman, but none of them asked him why he was doing it or what they had been discussing. The woman left her water jar beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone . . . Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay at their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many of them to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe because we have heard him ourselves, not just because of what you told us. He is indeed the Savior of the world.”
It’s as if she can sense it as they approach; it’s why she leaves. There is a disdain so obvious it transcends body language. They try to be better — they can’t help themselves. “They were astonished to find him talking to a woman,” read ‘a woman like her.’ She’s not going to get the same deference from them as she did from Jesus. He has a way of naturally giving what is difficult for others.
Jesus values her, a Samaritan, a women shall we say who has been around, perhaps even passed around. It couldn’t have been easy, not by this point in life. Jesus knows. His heart goes out to her. The risk to reputation be damned. Jesus extends His hand, His life, His love. His disciples have their reputations, and they are, at best, self protective.
The disciples know Jesus’ values so, “none of them asked him why he was doing it or what they had been discussing.” She feels the value. Still, there is a load of intimidation. It’s a funny tension: The more she allows His offer of worth, the more acute is her awareness of shame. He knows about the men, but it doesn’t change His offer.
Pain and shame: They shape how we live, what we are drawn to, what we shy away from. Jesus wants to reshape the way we live. Jesus wants to give us new stories of encounters with Him reshaping our futures. It’s an offer of value only He can give. It’s a value we can share with others as the woman in this story does. “We believe because we have heard him ourselves, not just because of what you told us. He is indeed the Savior of the world.” One encounter after another, that’s how the story goes.
Jesus, may I so value encounters with You. Let my life-stories be reshaped. Amen.
Dialog discuss: What do teachers make? I can make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor and I can make an A- feel like a slap in the face. How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best. . . . I make parents realize who their children are and who they can be. You want to know what I make. I make kids wonder. I make them question, I make them criticize. Teachers make a g**d*** difference now what about you. Taylor Mali- Teacher, Poet
This appears to be damn day. Profane language shows contempt for the listener. Then the listener isn’t listening anymore. Damn, damned, g**d****, G**d****…they all sound alike to me.
how shallow and dismissive Ellen, both of the devotion and and Taylor Mali but you seemed to relish in the profane, should we be feeling your contempt or did you have a point?
I do not care for this dialog at all. When we are in the reason of lent, I want my focus to be on Christ and the cross. Preparation for the lamb, the sacred lamb who died for my sins. I have a problem as does Ellen and I know that others do too, because I too heard others say that they would no longer be reading the iLent book. Where is the reverence and the honor for our Lord and Savior? I am saddened by these dialogs and the point is? I know it’s been said to get us thinking and dialoging, but I say it is dishonoring to my Savior and to be honest garbage. I already share and talk with others, but I see this as an insult to my faith and my heavenly father. I need to be honest, it is stirring up upset. and not doing what you thought it would, it is harmful and it breaks my heart. I would much rather read about the lamb who died for me, and my focus be on Him.
Marina please check this link
http://ilent.org/2009/?p=612l
Thank you Pastor Art, I appreciate your thoughfulness in the response yesterday that was sent to me and Ellen. I come from a reformed theology (PCA) R.C. Sproul, J.I. Packer, Boice, James Kennedy and Steve Brown, who I noticed that you used in one of your dialogs. So that may help you to understand my concerns, I have come along way, but I still hold those principles in my heart. I was so pleased to hear Pastor Jane’s message today and it was refreshing and the dialog I too appreciated. Thank you once again.
Mali makes an excellent point. We go to church and read our Bible to be taught how to live a Christ honoring life. And it does make a difference and we are better for it. But what do we do with these lessons, hide them in our heart? Mali calls us to pass-on these teachings. The younger generation is watching and learning from us whether we know it or not! They are reading this website and learning how we relate to each other and to the world. Shall we show them we don’t accept gems of wisdom because it’s not properly formatted, filtered, or cleaned?
I think Mali spoke in anger. I’d be angry too. Angry at parents who don’t care, angry at my parents. I’ll choose to make a difference.
My apologies to mik. By posting the profane, I did the same thing to you as was done to me in the devotional and the quote. Quite wrong. Thank you for pointing it out.
I’m so sorry Mali that you ar not open to other Christain opinions in this iLent book writen by several man of God.This book is to help us grow in even better relationship for the 40 days before Easter.
No one denid The Lamb or the Cross, so read more and don’t judge them for reaching out
in this way.
A follower of Christ is a real blessing to be chosen, by Him, so be happy and joyful with others who believe in Jesus Christ. Christ is with each of us at all times, good and bad times none of us are perfect.
God Bless Y ou and all those who wrote this devotional book.
Ellen please check this link
http://ilent.org/2009/?p=612l
Hey Mali, thanks for stirring it up! I just spent about 30 minutes more on iLent then I would have. I got to listen to Pastor Arts eloquent devotional a THIRD time! Because I already listened to it twice the first time.