Friday, October 30
"Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done!"
—John 4:29
In Jesus the disciples met such a profound love and acceptance that it simultaneously healed and judged them; disarmed them and made them whole. Within the embrace of his acceptance, their own self-centeredness became exposed as though under a searchlight. Every time they surrendered to that searing love, something in them became more coherent.
It's not easy being confronted with such piercing love. Not many of us handle it very well. If we try to maintain any of our self-serving traits in the face of such love, we will be frustrated. The ideal model, it seems to me, is the Samaritan woman.
Jesus meets her alone at the well at mid-day. You remember the story. They have some conversation about water. He offers her living water. She is intrigued. Then Jesus pierces into her soul. "Go, call your husband." "I have no husband." "You are right," says Jesus, "...for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband."
I imagine there is a long pause at this point as the woman weighs things. This man has exposed her guilt, her brokenness, her illness, her bondage, her blindness. When a stranger invades your space like that, the most natural reaction is one of self-defense, isn't it? But there is something more than natural about this man. There is something about the way Jesus is that allows her to be disarmed.
And she pauses long enough to let her reactive defenses down. She tastes the promised living water—forgiveness, wholeness, healing, freedom, light. Strangely thrilled, she returns home exclaiming, "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done!" Told her everything she has ever done? And she's happy about it?! This is like meeting God.
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid. You can only risk that kind of exposure when you know you are truly and deeply loved.
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(the Collect for Purity, from the Book of Common Prayer, p. 355)
These Signposts were originally published on explorefaith.org in 2005.
