VOICES

Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) shows us a pathway to a deeper relationship with the poor. …

When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, he knows her immediate (felt) need is for water from the well, and he does not ignore this need in order to meet her deeper need for eternal life. His first words to her were not, “You are a sinner; you need to accept me into your life; God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life”; or, “If you have enough faith you can drink all the water you want.”

Instead, Jesus says to her, “Give me a drink of water.” He did not start by saying, “I can help you.” He wanted her to know that she could help him. … By talking to her and asking her for help—demonstrating she had something of value that she could share with him—Jesus affirmed her dignity and broke down the wall of distrust. …

Jesus goes directly to the people and loves and affirms them. … Jesus’ method of ministering to people around their needs offers us a powerful example. Jesus met the Samaritan woman around her deepest felt need (having her dignity affirmed), loved her around that need (by starting an unheardof dialogue), made her need his very own (asking for a drink), then shared with her the “wonderful plan” by helping her discover for herself her deeper need.

Excerpt from Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development by John M. Perkins.