Breaking Down the Barriers
Jesus does not conform to man-made status quo.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were very familiar about Jesus’ challenging the norm. He breaks the tradition, questions the culture and breaks the barriers that we put around ourselves.
Observe the passages below:
John 4:1-9, 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) (NIV)
The Character of Jesus
The humanity of Jesus – he was tired, exhausted and thirsty. The Apostle John tells the story that Jesus is not free from the burdens of life as it is for us. He told us one who was tired but needs to go on.
There are times in our lives when we become tired and thirsty
We need a break
We need others to help us
The warmth of His sympathy – during those times, the woman would have not even gone near the well to avoid a religious leaders.
At any outreaches, we have to set the atmosphere of love and sympathy because people can sense it.
Have you had experience when someone come in a room and you immediately felt different?
We have to set our heart always ready to listen and respect one another
Breaker of barriers
There has been a history of hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans (mixed race) because of inter-marriage with the races due to the Median conquest of Samaria.
This is still true in our nation, we judge others based on nationality, race and education.
Jesus broke the tradition that a Rabbi should not speak to a woman in public.
The Samaritan woman asked a logical question, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan…”
Jesus broke the boundaries that the Samaritan woman had built around herself.
Application:
At food pantries
People are tired, worn out
People need help
We need to be sympathetic
Be welcoming
Make people a ease and don’t treat them indifferently
We are all in this together
There might be times when we will be on the other side
We have to take the time to earn the trust of others so they would allow us to serve them better.
Remember, you have the power to bring Kingdom solutions and resources to the world problems and challenges. Until then, God bless you and see you at the next FHL Community Episode.