Good News!

It's 2am in the morning and can't sleep because I wanted to put down in writing something that has been rolling around my mind. I have learned over time that when this happens it is a sure sign I need to get it down in writing.

I have been thinking about all of the people that walk around carrying guilt, shame, anger, rejection, lonliness, emptyness, fear, worry and every other emotion that weighs us all down. We all try to hide it, some are masters at it others not so. We go about our daily lives not really noticing or concerned about each other and the things we carry. But there is Good News! HONEST

Its probably obvious by now for anyone who visits and revists my blog that I mention the Person Jesus Christ and words from the Bible. So if you are still with me, thank you. As a Christian I can testify of what Christ has and is still doing in my life; I can testify with confidence and truthfully. I want to share a story from the Bible, a true story, one of many similar ones about another woman who testified to what Jesus did in her life.

The account is of a woman Jesus met; He went out of His way to meet this woman. We don't know her name only that she was a Samaritan from Samaria. She went to draw water from a well as all the women did, but this woman was different. The other women went to the well in the morning when it was cool, but this woman went alone in the heat of the day; we will see why in a moment.

Along comes Jesus who asks her for a drink (you can check out the story here) John 4 v 4-42).

Now why do I mention this account? This meeting/encounter was orchestrated by Jesus; He knew He would meet her, He hadn't been there so it wasn't that He had seen her before. Her life was about to change. As He asked her to get her husband, He knew all about her life; 5 previous husbands and the man she was with wasn't married to her; now can you see why the other women wouldn't want to be anywhere near her. She was judged, ostracised, an outcast, but Jesus didn't judge her, He was there to change her life. The whole point of this account is to highlight God's love, Grace and Mercy that extends to all. Jesus knew her life had been one of looking for fulfilment probably why she had so many husbands? Their discussion about worship was one that was controversial between Jews and Samaritans. Samaritans believed the mountain (Gerizim) they worshipped was Holy, the Jews had the Temple (that's another story). But Jesus said it's not where you worship it's WHO, not in a specific place but from the heart.

Remember, they were beside a well, He asked for a drink; as always Jesus used the very things around Him that people could relate to unfolding what He wanted to convey. The water was used to speak about the life that Jesus gives, everlasting life. When He said to her the water He gives, she will never be thirsty again. All the things she had looked for in her life had not fulfilled her, she was empty, thirsty. Isn't that true with all of us? We look for things in life, relationships, material things, status, fun but never truly satisfied.

She is amazed He knows all about her with no judgement, just a chance to believe on Him, accept Him. Notice she runs off to the town to tell others about Him, they come to see because of what she said, but when they see Jesus for themselves, they believe. I suppose that's what I'm doing, saying to anyone who will listen COME AND SEE, don't just take my word for it, see for yourself....see and believe.

We don't see in this account that He said to her 'you are a bad, bad woman' we don't read Him telling her what to do about her relationship. We only need to see Jesus had love, compassion, mercy on her. That's the whole point of the story. She believed it, her life changed with that encounter. Was it chance? Do you think you're here by chance, or is this orchestrated by God?

Jesus offered her living water...Himself. He is still offering it today, just as fresh, still living, still life changing, I can testify of that. Just like her, I'm telling you of a man who gave me that living water and I've never been the same. Now isn't that Good News!