Nougat 6

Are there verses in the Bible that aren’t always easy to grasp? Perhaps ones that we even parrot from time to time? If you agree, would today’s Holy Nougat be one of them?

“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”” John 4:23-24 NLT

Set in the context of a very intentional though seemingly random encounter between Jesus and a woman from the margins of the margins, the conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan offers many life lessons. Throughout what might have been a long talk, Jesus uses His divine powers (ie spiritual gifts) to engage the woman about her faith. They spoke about water, literally and metaphorically. They spoke about identity, culture, ancestry, property rights and these led to Faith and Religious belonging.

Whereas a well offers opportunities for encounter, meeting a stranger at a well in the blazing heat of the day was highly unlikely even in Jesus’ days. The request in and of itself was simple, but between those two was not. Nor was it coincidence.

In Jesus’ day, everyone was aware of the inconvenience and impracticality of fetching water in the middle of the day; so one might assume Jesus could have jumped to conclusions about the woman’s identity. Had that been the case, and had He been operating in His human nature; Jesus would have been better served ignoring the woman. For only outcasts or outlaws would fetch water at that time. And NEITHER would have been good for His reputation.

Further, the conversation should NOT have happened because Jews and Samaritans had strained relationships. Thus the woman’s status wasn’t the only thing that was rejection-worthy; her ethnicity was also taboo. So much so that in the natural, Jesus should really have ignored her. With Gentiles being included in the long list of the unclean, the water would be well and truly contaminated by the woman offering it. No matter how thirsty He was, Jesus the Jew had no business by the well demanding water.

Unless He was led by God’s Spirit

For then, being Led by God’s Spirit TO Gentile territory; Jesus established that God seeks hearts that hunger and thirst for God. And, that when we do so, the very things that should be deterrents to our ‘holiness’ (ie our call anointing and being set apart by God) have no currency in the realm of God’s Spirit.

Just think – the woman had a certain ‘reputation’

• she was from the wrong side of the tracks

• she had no rights to the very well they were at (it being a source of the dispute between the two peoples)

• she didn’t worship in the right place or the right way

• she didn’t even worship the right God!

Each being solid human reasons for God to overlook her. But God doesn’t look at our outer, superficial appearance; God looks at our hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7). Because it’s in our innermost being that we respond to God’s Spirit. That is our power-bank of worship! It is there that deep cleaves unto deep, spirit to Spirit.

Recognizing the woman’s true spiritual state, Jesus made the woman the offer beyond a lifetime. He invited her to join those who are true worshippers. According to God’s Spirit, and demonstrating the Fruit. Despite her gender. Despite her domestic affairs. Despite her ethnicity. Despite her worship traditions. Despite her age.

Right there where she was.

At the very moment.

In the blazing sun.

She accepted. She was transformed by God’s Spirit, on the inside where it mattered. She began to worship in Spirit and in Truth. She was set free.

And Christ’s offer is again extended, this time to each of us. God seeks true worshippers, who understand that God’s invitation is open to all. Regardless of age, class, ethnicity, status, domestic state, physical ability or gender.

Do we understand the context? How will we answer? Will God find in us True Worshippers?

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May all we seek be found in Christ