Faithfull Conversation

Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:5-42

Today’s passage from Exodus has the people grumbling because they don’t have water. I’d probably be one of those grumbling, too! So Moses takes the complaint to God, who says, “I’ve got you. Go to the rock at Horeb and strike the rock. Water will run out, and your people will be able to quench their thirst.” Moses did just as he was told, and the people were satisfied, for now. “See,” Moses tells the people, “God is trustworthy!”

Centuries later, the twelve tribes were united for about 100 years under Saul, David, and Solomon. But they argued, and the 10 northern tribes split off and were known as Israel. They were invaded by the Assyrians, and scattered, never to recover their status as a kingdom. The 2 southern tribes, known as Judah, lasted another 150 years, and the leaders were taken to Babylon for about 50 years.

The reason given for both conquests is that they didn’t trust in God. They made alliances with other kingdoms instead of trusting God to keep them safe.

By Jesus’ time, the faithful remnant in the northern tribes, in the area called Samaria, had shaped the tenets of their faith to include only the Torah as holy scripture, Mount Gerizim as the holy place, and the expectation of a messiah called the Taheb, who will come and tell them the truth.

After the Babylonian Exile, about 10% of the people return to the land known as Judah. They, too, reestablish their religious practices, with Mount Zion in Jerusalem as the holy place. They consider the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings as holy Scripture. And they expect a Messiah to be a king like David, to restore them to their former glory.

The differences between these two groups caused a lot of friction, with the people of each land seeing the other as wrong, sinful. They avoided each other, often going far out of the way to avoid passing through each other’s territory.

Now, in the Gospel reading for today, we have Jesus, a Jew, encountering a Samaritan woman in her own territory and engaging her in conversation. I’m sure the disciples are whispering to each other, “What on earth is he doing?” “We should have gone the long way!” “Doesn’t he know who he is talking with?” They are appalled at Jesus’ behavior.

But let’s pay attention to Jesus’ words and actions. The location, at a well, is important, since it is a symbol of their joint history as God’s people, descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Alert Jews hearing this story later would be expecting something important to happen when a man and woman meet at a well, since several marriage stories in the past began with an encounter at a well.

Although the “please” isn’t included when Jesus asks for water, the woman assumes it. She is puzzled that a Jew would ask a Samaritan for anything, but apparently wants to satisfy her curiosity.

They spend some time getting to know each other. Jesus lets the woman understand that he knows all about her, without condemning her for her relationships. It is what it is, and it may not be her fault that she has had so many men in her life.

Jesus has the woman’s attention now. She wants to know more and asks how what he says can be true. Jesus explains that when people worship God in spirit and truth, the location doesn’t matter. In the future, Jerusalem and Gerizim won’t matter to either Jews or Samaritans.

Now, Jesus really seals the deal for the woman.  Worshiping in truth – that’s what the Taheb (the Samaritan version of the Messiah) will bring.

In its outward form, this is a story of Jesus reaching out to a foreign woman with a questionable past and not condemning her. And it is a story of Jesus reaching out to the Samaritans/foreigners with the good news.

But at a deeper level, he is attempting to heal the ancient rift between them. He can be both Messiah and Taheb. Since they worship in spirit, the location of the mountain doesn’t matter. And Jesus respects the earliest history they share by meeting her at Jacob’s well.

… By now, you’re probably wondering, what about the water! The reading from Exodus and the Gospel both have a lot to do with water, so we should probably talk about water. Water is life-giving. We can live for up to about 3 weeks without food, but only 4 days without water. So, water is essential to survival. The ancient Israelites had every right to complain if they didn’t have any water while wandering in the wilderness.  

In this conversation with the Samaritan woman, Jesus gives another meaning to water. He makes it spiritual! He offers a new formula: water + spirit = eternal life. When God’s words combine with plain water, we get baptism, a new relationship with God. That’s what eternal life is, relationship with God.

The ancient Israelites were just learning what it meant to have a relationship with God. They were learning about God’s power; they were learning to trust. They were learning that God spoke through Moses and Aaron. They were remembering the relationship this same God once had with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel and Leah and their slave women. Their understanding of relationship with God was trust.

Eternal life is also about trusting God; but Jesus added a symbol – water – to help us comprehend the relationship. Just as water is essential for life itself, so bathing in water – or at least sprinkling it on ourselves – reminds us that life, and eternal life, comes from God.

… Eternal life is so good it’s worth sharing with others. The Samaritan woman is so excited about this encounter she leaves her water jar and runs back into town. She calls everyone to come and meet Jesus, the Taheb. The people in town believe her word and they invite Jesus to stay for several days to teach them and folks from the surrounding area.

We are called to be like this woman at the well, and reach out to tell others how valuable it is. I know, Lutherans don’t do that! But I promise you that if you look for an opportunity to share God’s love, you will find it. An opening in a conversation will happen, a door will open, and I hope you will find a way to walk right in and talk about how much God means to you. Have a conversation, with questions and answers, like the one this woman and Jesus had. Maybe you both will be amazed at what happens. Amen