Daily Worship

Come and See

Campbell Dye November 18, 2022 0 2
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John 4: 27-29 (NIVUK)

27 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?’

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done. Could this be the Messiah?’

Some time ago, I went with a couple of friends to see U2 play in Glasgow. The concert was in an arena, rather than the stadiums in which they normally play. I’d loved the band for decades but had never seen them live. We ended up very, very close to the stage – so close, in fact, that I am sure a drop of Bono’s sweat landed on me during a particularly vigorous rendition of ‘Pride (in the name of love)’.

Being that close to the action was amazing but I had a sense that there was something “other” about the band members. There felt like there was some sense in which they were unapproachable or different. Something about how their fame made them slightly frightening and untouchable. I am sure that they are nothing of the sort in real life and that I was just a bit stage-struck and overcome by the atmosphere...

But how different is the Samaritan woman’s experience of Jesus. She is drawn to him and talks freely.  She doesn’t appear to be particularly overcome by the astonishing things she hears. She doesn’t run away. Instead, she goes and gets her friends.

This story of the eternal breaking through into the everyday should reassure us. The promises of God stretching back to the very beginning of human history stand before the woman, fulfilled and accessible to her in human form. She is convinced by what she sees and hears and goes to share.

Should we, with our friends and neighbours, be more like this woman — “Come and see what I've found….”

 

PRAYER:

 

Father God, give us the courage to share our faith. Help us know how to tell people about you and give us the words to speak. Most of all, let us know when and how we can show your love through care and concern for our neighbour. AMEN.