Monday, October 14, 2013

John 4:26

Jesus can hardly wait to say the words, “Woman, you are speaking to the Messiah.” John 4:26 EFP

Ding!  Ding!  Ding!  Ding!  The bells are ringing as the words she has been waiting to hear all her life are uttered in her presence.  Had Jesus led off by saying, “I am the Messiah, give me a drink of water, woman!” she may not have remained long enough to learn anything about the mysteries Jesus is sharing with her.  But because Jesus engaged her from a position of need and used a combination of gentle tugs and less-than-subtle revelations, she is still there in a state of total vulnerability longing to hear more from the Messiah.

“I am the Messiah!” Let the words resonate as they do with the woman.  She needs answers—the Messiah has them.  She needs someone to trust—the Messiah is trustworthy.  But Jesus has let her know the Messiah is much more than that.  The Messiah is the life-giver, the thirst-quencher, and the truth-revealer.  The Messiah is the conduit for salvation for everyone who is confused, thirsty, and death-bound. 

“Like the woman at the well I was seeking…” are the opening words of on old gospel song by Richard Blanchard.  I have either sung or led others in singing the song hundreds of times over the years, yet somehow today they ring as they have never done before.  I find myself at times like the woman at the well—living, but not quite alive; doing, but not really being; full of answers, but not in touch with the truth; going through the motions hoping deep-down for an encounter with the Messiah, so that he can make sense of it all.  Misguided and misplaced faith causes me to live this way. It is not a God problem—it is a “me” problem.  He is longing for the moment when he can finally break through and say the words, “I’m here—let’s talk.  I’ve been waiting for this moment all your life.”  To which I say, “Fill my Cup, Lord!”

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