The disciples, in what would soon
become a pattern that would endure throughout Jesus’ ministry, have totally
missed the point. Jesus recognizes an
opportunity to “seek and save” a lost soul and all the disciples see is a
wasted trip into town. Jesus anticipates
the arrival of a woman who needs to hear good news amidst the arid landscape of
a life lived in servitude to a series of men who literally possess her only to
dispose of her when they have had their fill.
The latest in the series of men does not even consider her worthy or
marriage. She doesn’t care. The woman is tapped out. Jesus brings a sudden torrent of hope to her
parched life. The disciples only see the
awkwardness of the moment—a Jewish man in proximity to a Samaritan woman. What will people say?
Jesus gently rebukes them. He points out the inconsistency in their
ability to prognosticate the harvest long before it arrives, yet their failure
to see the promise and potential of a soul ready for the Kingdom. Their self-interest and prejudice keeps them
from appreciating the spiritual landscape of souls waiting to be brought into
the storehouse of God. “Open your eyes!”
he challenges his crew. “You’re missing
the opportunity to make a difference!
Open your eyes!”
I wonder how often I’ve needed to hear
Jesus telling me to open my eyes. How
many times have I been so consumed by the expedient, that I overlook the
important? How many times while seeking
my daily bread and have I missed out on a heavenly sustenance that makes the
earthly variety pale into insignificance and irrelevance. Lord, help me see the opportunities to be
used by your Spirit to reach a person for your Kingdom in surprising
settings. May my soul be satisfied by
the food Jesus made his daily bread on during his time on earth.
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