URGENCY

 

Friday, January 24, 2025

 

URGENCY

 

John 9:4

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

 

John 4:3-7

3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

4 And he must needs go through Samaria.

5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. [noon]

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

 

          John indicates an urgency to Jesus’ life and ministry. It had purpose and order but there was an urgency to His actions.

 

          Now we see Jesus taking a cultural detour through Samaria on his way to the lake country of Galilee. It was not the normal route, but it was the most direct one. Jesus knew what nobody else could know. There was a woman of Samaria with an appointment at the local well. The encounter looked ever so smooth and casual, but it was certainly not.

 

          Jesus positioned Himself in the path of the needy. This He always did although it was seldom recognized until afterward. So, He sat on the well-wall at noon. There He urgently waited.

 

          Water was usually drawn in the morning, when it was cooler, and not at mid-day when the sun was high but the woman with five husbands came hoping to avoid the accusing looks and harsh comments of the citizens who were themselves known as half-bred Jews at best.

 

          Jesus ignored cultural bigotry. There was no time for cast clashing. He asked the woman a simple question which placed Him on the same level as the woman. Both had a deep thirst although hers was not for water. “Give me to drink.” She answered with a question of her own. “Why are you willing to even speak to me? I am a woman and a Samaritan. Jews avoid Samaritans.”

 

          Jesus reveals Himself to the hurting and treats them with kindness. The air must have crackled with the urgency of the moment as Jesus says, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water.”

 

          Jesus is aware of our guilt and shame and is not shamed by the knowing of it. He did not fear soiling Himself with sinners. Can you feel the urgency now?

 

          Oh, sinner! Go to the well! Hurry, someone is waiting for you there. Oh, Christian! Go to the well! Hurry, someone is waiting for you there.

 

John 4:23-24

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

Dear Jesus, help us to sense the urgency of the times in which we live. AMEN