Scripture: John 4: 27 – 29
Have you ever had an experience so exciting that you just couldn’t keep it to yourself? Maybe you quickly called up a friend or rushed home to inform your spouse or when the Pastor called for this week’s testimonies, you rapidly stood up, unable to control your excitement…because you just had to tell somebody!!
The Samaritan woman in the scripture had a similar experience. She was a woman with a shady past and present. Her best efforts to stay out of public view and the gossip mill might possibly explain why she waited until noon to fetch water from the well, when the busiest time was early in the morning.
But on this certain day in the text, she had a life changing interaction with Jesus. The experience was so awesome, the Bible says in v. 28, “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”
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Honestly, I found her testimony a little strange. How could she be excited that this man Jesus put her on blast and basically reminded her about her five husbands and current live-in arrangement (v. 17-18)? He was ‘all up in her kool-aid’ (translation – he was all up in her business). Before she uttered a word, He KNEW all about her.
Now, I could understand her being excited if Jesus had prophesied something about getting a house, car or money. It would have made sense if he had told her some good news about another relationship. But Jesus speaks right to her mess and doesn’t leave any room for her to make an excuse. He knew all about her stuff.
So what’s all the excitement about? Why did she rush back to town to tell the people, “He told me everything I ever did”?
I am a mother, and there are things about my son that I know. I know before he confesses. I know whether he confesses or not. I know. I know when he’s lying. I know when he’s made a mistake. I know him. But in spite of what I know, I still Love him!
God spoke to me, as I studied this text, “Najuma, in spite of what I DO KNOW, I still love my children!” See, the blessing of the Lord’s love, salvation and grace is that they are freely given to us in spite of what God does know about us. In spite of the secrets, hidden things, the embarrassing stuff, the mess, the drama….in spite of everything HE knows, the LORD still extends to us His LOVE, SALVATION and GRACE.
What does the Lord KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I believe this woman, who obviously experienced ridicule and mistreatment from people…for the first time in a long time, experienced the unmerited love of God. In spite of what Jesus KNEW, He still offered her Living Water that would well up to eternal life (v14); and that moment of true love…moved her so much – she just couldn’t keep it to herself.
So, the next time the Lord blesses you, in spite of you…don’t keep it to yourself, but tell somebody! Because someone else needs to know about His love in spite of what HE knows about us!!!!
The Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith is the founding pastor of Word of Encouragement Community Church and associate director of Community and Public Engagement at USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture. This message first appeared in the L.A. Sentinel in October 2009.
