And where are the disciples during this encounter? What have they chosen to do while their
Master meets with this local woman of ill repute? John decides to share this information with
us. They are all in town gathering some
grub. They are hungry, and when guys get
hungry they go looking for something to eat.
It’s normal. It’s expected. I will even give them the benefit of the
doubt and grant that they go looking for food out of consideration for Jesus
who they think is too tired and should take a break while they do the leg work. They were hungry enough to go into a
Samaritan town to find nourishment!
But Jesus has other things in mind. His priorities are different. His hunger is not for food, at least not the
kind the disciples are seeking. We
already established that He certainly is not dependent on someone to quench his
thirst, unless he chooses to be. And
this is what he elects to do. He depends on his disciples to bring him food. He
asks for water from a woman he has never met.
The way I see it, the first scenario is necessary for the
second one to take place exactly like he wants it to happen. He chooses to accept the disciples’ offer to
go hunting for food knowing that their absence will facilitate the encounter
with a very special Samaritan woman.
There are certain things that Jesus has to do alone, other than the
incarnation. He knows best when only a
one-to-one meeting is needed. This is
one of those moments. Days of crowds and
chaos are in the future. But today only
an exclusive interview with an unsuspecting woman is warranted. Come think of it, I also need times of
corporate worship and praise. That’s why
God calls me to not neglect gathering together with fellow believers (Hebrews
10:25). But I also need times of
one-to-one with my Lord. There are
certain things that he wants to share that can only be communicated when I sit with
him and listen to his voice—alone.
Sometimes he even has to make those moments happen. I’m glad he does. I need it.
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