MUSINGS ON THE BOOK OF JOHN

BY CONNIE HECKER

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 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 4:1-9 (NIV)

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.“

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-5 (NIV)

Adjusting to the Circumstances

When Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard of His growing following, He knew it was time to leave the area and head back to His home in Galilee. Jesus adjusted to the situation and moved in response to both the circumstances and the choices of the culture around Him. He deliberately took the route through Samaria to return to Galilee.

Previously, when the wine ran out at the wedding described in John, chapter 2, Mary had interceded, going directly to Jesus. But that time, Jesus responded to the timing differently, reminding this “woman” that His “hour had not yet come.” Then, seemingly regardless of His own comment, He met her request.

Both of Jesus’ adjustments involved the circumstances and the culture around Him. In response to the problems with the Pharisees, Jesus left because it was not yet the time for that confrontation. In response to the circumstances at the wedding, after being asked to get involved in this cultural disaster about to happen, Jesus stayed and confronted the problem, providing the solution.

Jesus’ timeframe of action did not revolve around
the circumstances of the day but around His
mission that needed to be accomplished.
Jesus had a process for “His time.”

For me, applying this means that I should check my mission. What adjustment must I make to accomplish His mission for my life? Is there a change of culture or location necessary? I can let requests alter my choices, and the knowledge of my circumstances and the plans of others change my location, but at the heart, I must keep following His plan.

• What circumstance am I in today? Have I gotten stuck in date and time-based problems? Am I doing the work He has for me to do? Do I need to change something, approach it from another angle, or meet a request from someone? Am I being pressured to go in a wrong direction, or am I being lured by my success and in danger of going off of His plan by doing the right thing in ‘my time’ instead of in His right time?

• Will I trust Him with my decisions?

• Will I do what He has for me no matter where I have to travel, trusting Him to provide in His time when it is time to go home?

• Will I trust Him to tell me when it is time to go back to my roots?

• Will I trust Him even if I have to leave behind a great success and put my focus in a new direction or return to an old one?

• Will I let His perfect timing for His perfect plan abide in me today as I trust His ways?

Value of Neediness

On the way to Galilee, Jesus became tired. He had been walking for many hours with His group. The God of the Universe, Creator of all, sat down to rest His human form. His tired team went on to the town to buy food.

• Am I that kind of friend?

• Would I, too, be willing to walk on a bit further while another rested so that I could bring back food?

• Do I have that servant’s heart?

But Jesus’ heart was not resting, just His legs. For the place was a chosen place, a place with history. The well they stopped at, John tells us, is the one Jacob gave to his son, Joseph; Joseph, who had gone into captivity, sold away by his brothers for a later purpose—the rescue of Israel. Now, in that place of refreshment and provision for all comes Jesus. And a woman. She came at this very specific hour we are told of. It is not the usual social time to draw water. She comes after hours because she is an outcast. She comes at a time when she can avoid the disdain of others. What an awful and isolated life she had— used by some men of the community and shunned by the women. One single man would not keep her from coming to the well. She could face one—with her guard up. Besides, He would certainly not talk with her because He, by His dress, was a Jew, so she felt safe.

I can learn from her. I will take the risk.

• Do I need to talk to Jesus?

• Do I feel I am safer in His presence because He is alone?

• Do I fear He is so holy and apart from me, He will not care to speak to me?

Yet speak He does. And not to criticize nor condemn nor shame. Jesus asks for her help! She is the needy one. She is broken. What does she have that she can give to Him? She is not only an outcast to Jews as a Samaritan woman, but she is an outcast in her own hometown because of her lifestyle. What does she have that she can possibly give Him?

She has the ability to draw water and refresh His human form.

Do I realize that I, too, as well as every suffering person, have something to offer another? It may be a simple gesture that I take so for granted that I do not realize its power. Perhaps a wave of the hand before me in a line, or a simple smile for the mother struggling with a temperamental toddler, or a gracious thank you for expected service. We all have an offering. When Jesus met this spiritually needy woman, He asked for her help BEFORE He offered His.

When I want to help another whom I think is in need, do I ask for their help first? What value Jesus gave her! What healing of wounds started by that simple request! How blessed and humble my Lord is.

Jesus is polite, kind in His request. Am I? Do I place value on those from whom I am asking for help in something so small yet so refreshing as a drink of water? (Hey, for me, it may be coffee.) But how do I ask?

When Jesus asks of me, will I provide Him what He asks for? Since He would never ask from me that which I do not have the ability to give, what is He asking of me? He thirsts. Will I draw Him His water?

Connie Hecker, MFA, is a Scenic Designer currently teaching at Liberty University. She is mom, stepmom, and grandmother to 13. Her “first career” was in interior and industrial design. Her “second” was as Manager of Operations and Maneuvers (note initials) in her extended family. Her ‘third’ is as a professor and she looks forward to what God has in store as her “fourth” someday.