A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."
~ John 4:7 (NKJV)
Which is more surprising?
(a) Jesus stepping into enemy territory
(b) The Rabbi alone with a harlot
(c) the God who has everything asking a person for the little they have
(d) the Creator needing a drink
The answer certainly isn't (a). God coming to dwell with man was stepping into enemy territory from day one. Knowing men would eventually kill Him never hindered Jesus from being where He needed to be to do His Father's will.
Is (b) really unusual? More than once, we see Jesus as able to associate with all manner of sinners, because their sin did not tempt Him. He unapologetically did right and spoke truth, knowing people would speak badly of Him anyway, and having no fear of their slander (John 2:24-25).
Consider (c). Does this woman of bad reputation have anything to offer Jesus except that drink of water? There seems to be no surprise that He asks it of her. Why then are we taken aback when He asks us for the little we have?
And so I choose (d) as the most surprising. I shake my head to think that the Creator puts on mortal flesh and allows Himself to become needful of a drink of water.
I shake my head to think that God creates mortals and allows Himself to require our love.
How does God surprise you?
God of Living Waters, You fully command my love. Thank You for rendering my heart helpless before You.
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Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
I can't help but think of the song "Amazing Love" and the words "How can it be that my King would die for me?" Brings tears to my eyes every single time.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Anne! The simple fact that a limitless God chose ... CHOOSE ... to become limited so that he could truly understand every temptation we will ever face is stunning at the very core. Absolutely stunning. It frees us to the core to love Him with all that we are and have.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, Mary, if our amazement will cease in Heaven when we see our Lord and have full understanding, or if amazement will reach an entirely new level.
ReplyDeleteDonna, if God was anyone but God I would think He is crazy to do what He does for us. You're right—His willingness to share our human experience is absolutely stunning love, to enable our love. There's never too much we can do to express it.
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