HOW WOULD HE HANDLE ACCEPTANCE TODAY?
(John 4:7-10; Matthew 28:18-20)
(Delivered 8-25-02)
A group of British Clerics were discussing the relative power of
religious bishops and civic judges. One of them said, "I
believe the Bishop is more powerful because the judge can only
say, "You be hanged"; while the Bishop can say, "You be damned."
"Ah, yes!" replied another man, "But, when that judge says,
"Be
hanged," you are hanged!
Well, too many of us pronounce condemnation on others-especially
others who are different from us. Jesus demonstrated an
opposite attitude. The Scriptures say on one occasion, "He came
to a town in Samaria called Sychar . . . Jacob's well was there,
and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the
well. It was about the sixth hour" (John 4:3-6).
Now, most Jews took a long detour to avoid Samaria. They hated
these people and the hostility was mutual. But Jesus wasn't a
bigot. "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said
to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone
into the town to buy food.)" (John 4:7-8).
This woman knew immediately that he was a Jew and was shocked
that he spoke to her. She said, " '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). Jesus answered her, 'If you
knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink,
you would have asked him and he would have given you living
water.' 'Sir,' the woman said, 'you have nothing to draw with
and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?' "
(John 4:9b-12).
This woman, like most people, thought only in physical terms.
She wanted literal water. But he meant Spiritual renewal.
"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty
again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never
thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring
of water welling up to eternal life.'
The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water so that I won't
get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water' " (John
4:13-15).
She obviously didn't understand all of this explanation, but she
was willing to accept what he had to offer.
But now Jesus began to deal with more personal issues. "He told
her, 'Go, call your husband and come back.' 'I have no
husband,' she replied. Jesus said to her, 'You are right when
you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five
husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you
have just said is quite true' " (John 4:16-18).
There was no condemnation or shame in this statement. He was
simply showing an awareness of her problem. Again, she was
honest and open. She didn't defend herself or protest
innocence. Instead, she asked a religious question. " 'Sir,'
the woman said, 'I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers
worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place
where we must worship is in Jerusalem' " (John 4:19-20).
Jesus then expressed one of the deepest and most significant
concepts of his entire ministry; and surprisingly, it was to a
woman. In fact, it was to an immoral pagan woman. "Jesus
declared, 'Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will
worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem . .
.Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the
kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his
worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth' " (John 4:21-24).
He respected her and she responded. "The woman said, 'I know
that Messiah' (called Christ) 'is coming. When he comes, he will
explain everything to us' " (John 4:25).
Then, he revealed his identity. "Jesus declared, 'I who speak
to you am he' " (John 4:26).
His disciples who came up about this time were shocked that
Jesus would be talking to this woman. Obviously they weren't as
unprejudiced and tolerant as Jesus; but they knew enough to keep
their mouths shut. The Scriptures say, "Just then his disciples
returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman.
But no one asked, 'What do you want?' or 'Why are you talking
with her?' " (John 4:27).
Jesus' acceptance accomplished a wonderful transformation in
this woman. The Scriptures say, "Then, leaving her water jar,
the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 'Come,
see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the
Christ?' " They came out of the town and made their way toward
him" (John 4:28-30).
Jesus was so excited and happy over this incident that he
couldn't eat. The Scriptures say, "Meanwhile his disciples
urged him, 'Rabbi, eat something.' But he said to them, 'I have
food to eat that you know nothing about.' Then his disciples
said to each other, 'Could someone have brought him food?' 'My
food,' said Jesus, 'is to do the will of him who sent me and to
finish his work' " (John 4:31-34).
Why do you suppose Jesus interacted with this person in the way
he did? What lessons can we learn from this incident? What
point does he make about acceptance?
I. FIRST, HE WASN'T CONCERNED ABOUT HER GENDER.
In that day males didn't converse with females. They certainly
didn't discuss theology, and they absolutely wouldn't do
something as intimate as sharing a drink. But Jesus was not a
male chauvinist. He saw people as individual souls. He never
made a difference in his concern for men and women. His
attitude probably inspired Paul to later say, "There is neither
Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all
one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28).
II. NEXT, JESUS WASN'T CONCERNED ABOUT HER RACE OR NATIONALITY.
Samaritans were considered "low-class", half-breeds. Jews had
absolutely no contact or interaction with them. But Jesus had
an important conversation with this foreigner. In fact, he
shared some of his deepest insights with her. He was not a
bigot. He saw people as individual souls. He never made a
difference in his concern for Jew or Gentile. His tolerance
probably led Peter to later say,"You are well aware that it is
against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit
him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure
or unclean" (Acts. 10:28).
III. FINALLY, JESUS WASN'T EVEN CONCERNED ABOUT HER RELIGION.
Samaritans had different beliefs and worship practices.
Furthermore, this woman's lifestyle was very promiscuous. In
that day to have 5 divorces and live with someone out of wedlock
was even more shocking then, than it is now.
But, Jesus didn't even deal with any of those issues. He was
not dogmatic about traditions and doctrinal purity. He saw
people as individual souls. He never made a difference in his
concern for orthodox or unorthodox beliefs. His deep belief was
stated this way: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but
the sick" (Matt. 9:12).
What if this were today? Would Jesus still interact with all
people; even those who are socially unacceptable? Would he
converse with Muslims and Buddhists? Would he share a drink
with a prostitute?
Even though some standards would be different if Jesus lived
here in America today instead of in Palestine 2000 years ago;
some responses would remain the same.
1. FIRST, JESUS WOULD STILL TREAT BOTH MALES AND FEMALES WITH
RESPECT.
He would not categorize certain interests and abilities and
occupations by gender. He was 2000 years ahead of the "Women's
Rights" movement. He complimented Mary's interest in theology
and scolded Martha for trying to keep her in "her place" in the
kitchen. He wouldn't emphasize that "Men are from Mars; and
women are from Venus." Instead, he would see each person as a
unique individual. He would realize that we are living in the
time that Joel and later Peter mentioned. "`In the last days,
God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and
daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your
old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and
women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will
prophesy" (Acts 2:17-18).
2. NEXT, JESUS WOULD STILL TREAT ALL RACES AND NATIONALITIES
WITH RESPECT.
He would not condemn every Arab because some of them are
terrorists. He would not claim that "God doesn't hear the
prayers of Jews." He wouldn't discriminate against
African-Americans or Mexican-Americans. Instead, he would value
the diverse talents and strengths and traditions of all human
beings.
His attitude inspired Peter to say, "I now realize how true it
is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every
nation who fear him and do what is right" (Acts 10:34-35).
3. FINALLY, JESUS WOULD STILL TREAT PEOPLE OF ALL BELIEF
SYSTEMS WITH RESPECT.
Too many people say, "If you don't belong to my denomination,
you can't take communion with me"; "If you are not baptized as I
prescribe, your baptism is no good"; "If your skin is not the
color of mine, you cannot worship in my church." But there's
really only one criteria. John said, "By this all men will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"
(John 13:35).
Accepting others is basic. Paul said, "The man who eats
everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man
who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does,
for God has accepted him" (Rom. 14:3).
Other people's convictions are none of our business. Instead of
always judging different viewpoints as "I'm right and you're
wrong"; we should say, "I see it from this perspective; and you
see it from that perspective. Let's learn from each other."
Now, if we're to take the Gospel seriously, what does this mean
for us?
Remember the Scripture says, "Whoever claims to live in him must
walk as Jesus did" (I John 2:6).
If Jesus lived today he would accept all people as they are!
That would enable them to become more than they are. When
Mother