The Best Woman for the Job

6 minute read

Someone once said,

“The best time to plant a tree is 30 years ago. The second best time is now.”

(Seriously, I have no idea who said this. The strongest source so far is an Ohio councilman from 1967, but he denied making it up. Some people call it a Chinese proverb, but there’s little evidence of that.) {1}

Whether it was a Midwest council member or a Chinese philosopher from the Han dynasty, the saying is applicable in a lot of situations.

People often find themselves paralyzed from making long-term decisions because it isn’t “the right time.”

They wait to start a new exercise routine until the school year is over. They decide to change their eating and cooking habits once the next year rolls around. It’s not a good time to start writing or read new books or try a pottery class because things haven’t lined up yet. Maybe it’s best to put off that family visit until things calm down. Start therapy when life is a little less hectic.

The best time to take on an overwhelming task or life change or habit-forming routine was years ago. And the second best time is now.

Where this metaphor breaks down is when we get to Jesus, and our relationship with Him. Because the best time to come to Jesus isn’t actually based on time. He pursues us again and again, whether or not we feel ready.

The story of the Samaritan woman at the well is unexpected for a whole host of reasons.

1. Race

This woman is a Samaritan, someone that the Jews considered inferior. The Jewish people did not cross through Samaria because they were long-standing enemies with the Samaritans; they went around that region when heading to Jerusalem even though it meant adding several days to their travel. She would have been confused why Jesus would have even been in her town, much less actually engaged with her.

2. Gender

She might have thought Jesus was coming to flirt with her, because she was a woman alone at the well in the middle of the day. But he had something crucially important to say.

3. Morality

On two levels, this was significant. Jesus’ friends would have thought Jesus was “too holy” to come talk to her given the fact that she was out alone in the middle of the day drawing water, and not exactly a woman of integrity.

And for the disciples, the Scripture says John 4:26-27 “They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of woman (Jessie’s emphasis). Their faces showed what they were thinking.”

Why would Jesus associate with someone who was unacceptable?

This is where the advice about tree planting is about to come in (hang with me here). Our big idea for this season is how Jesus’ unexpected friendships transform the way we love each other.

So how does the story of the Samaritan woman change the way we love each other?

The Samaritan woman is someone who has lived with a lot of shame. She would have felt like her life was all over the place. But Jesus says “if you knew the gift of God… you would be asking me for a drink and I would give you fresh, living water” (Jessie’s emphasis). This means that…

1) Jesus isn’t waiting for her to have her life together to offer her grace and

2) He is genuinely giving someone that the Jews saw as immoral the eternal life of God.

Whaaaaaat?

Jesus isn’t waiting for someone to get their act together to give them grace? He isn’t seeking out the most righteous and on-top-of-it? How could this be? Although those who have grown up in the church are often told that humility is important and the last shall be first, I think it’s worth the reminder that Jesus didn’t come for the people who “got it right.” He didn’t seek out the religious leaders, or the most put-together community members, and he sure didn’t stick to Main street. He sought out the outcasts, the invisible, the ones who were hurting and falling apart. And that’s not all…

The Samaritan woman was an outcast, hated, and invisible.

But Jesus preached to her, and sent her to spread the Gospel to the Samaritans. And Jesus sent his disciples to get groceries while he did it! That’s a reversal of expectations that would’ve boggled the disciples’ minds and been entirely incomprehensible.

Remember the best time to plant a tree?

Even though the metaphor applies to an exercise routine or diet change or habit-forming, it isn’t relevant in God’s kingdom. God is always pursuing us, and we get to pursue Him over and over again, every time we fail and admit we need help.

God isn’t waiting for you to get your life together, and then he’ll see you.

This life isn’t a waiting room where you try and organize your bag or wallet enough to find everything. The Samaritan woman didn’t have to have it all figured out before Jesus offered her the living water.

She could have refused, or ignored Him, or walked away. But she didn’t. She went and told her whole community about what Jesus had said, and the way He saw her. The disciples would have been shocked that Jesus sent a Samaritan woman to talk to… Samaritans? About Him? But what about the Jews?

They were missing the crucial fact that Jesus didn’t just come for the Jews, He came for everyone.

And Jesus doesn’t love just the people who are righteous, He loves the messy ones too. The people who feel broken, or unworthy, or shameful.

This invites us to love each other in different ways. Jesus invites us to draw closer to those who long for him, not just the people we see as “morally good.” We can learn from people who are different in every way imaginable by paying attention to their hearts and what they long for.

The reminder that Jesus will send unexpected people to disciple us is an important one because it’s all too easy to forget.

Join us this Sunday for our Common Table gathering as we explore the story of the Samaritan woman at the well with Jessie Bloss. In the meantime, sit on this question: