Nougat 2

Reading a devotional on evangelism, today’s Holy Nougat immediately caught my attention. What impact does it have on you?

““Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”” ‭‭John‬ ‭4:29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The subject of the speech was a Samaritan woman who, prior to the ‘Come see’ moment, was not esteemed in her community. Yet, we know from the rest of the narrative, the people listened to her that day. I suspect it lie in what she said.

What an interesting juxtaposition – ‘Come See!’ and ‘Is this…?’ An invitation framed as an imperative and a question that qualifies the invitation.

Come see – most of the world has a curious streak within, and an invitation to ‘Come See!’, is usually a winner for getting people’s attention. Despite her status, her strategy worked. Perhaps because the ‘Who’ she thought everyone needed to see was Jesus. Strengthening her argument by describing the ‘man’ they were to come see as one who had special psychic powers, she could almost guarantee people would go running. It certainly could be a draw for crowds in many circles today.

Even among believers. (I too have been guilty of following after signs and wonders and prophetic utterances). With her rep, a stranger who could tell her all about her life was operating with strong skills. It’s likely that others might have wanted to see if what she said was true and see if they could have a similar experience. The woman took a gamble on the people’s curiosity. And it worked. Knowing our crowd when sharing the Gospel is important as it provides a point of reference to begin our sharing. Even when we are outcasts.

True, the woman was an outcast in her community; but we also know that she hailed from an outcast community. Oh yes! The Samaritans were Jewish outcasts. They had somewhat similar ancestry, but religious and political values in the past drove a rift in the relationship. Like the woman whom they marginalized, they were not welcome in polite Jewish society.

Yet, there were Samaritans who awaited the arrival of the (Jewish) Messiah (see John 4:25). The woman, outcast though she was, was one of them.

Knowing her status, she didn’t insist on her Truth. She did not begin with, ‘I have met the Messiah! You’d better come get your lives in order!’ She could have. Some of us would have. Despite being judged by her fellow citizens, she extended an invitation they would not wish to refuse – to hear their own life stories AND to see for themselves whether the Messiah had come to them, the left behind.

This reminder that Jesus came for the outcast is still urgently needed in our time. For there are many, perhaps even from our old circles, who are dying to hear the Truth of Jesus’ love for the unloved. We have the opportunity to invite them to ‘Come See!’ And probably, like the woman, we might say enough to pique their curiosity and add the qualifier – ‘Is this the Messiah you seek?’ The decision is theirs; we only offer to make the introduction.

Have you met the Man?

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May all we seek be found in Christ