What Does the Bible Say About Prejudice? Sample

Day 3 - How did Jesus respond to division?

What happens when Jesus confronts these deep dividing lines of hostility?

No other story better demonstrates Jesus’ compassion that crosses division than the story of the woman at the well.

Here, there are two barriers to speaking with her. As she puts it: “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (emphasis added) She is both an unaccompanied woman and a Samaritan. Jesus speaking to her is unthinkable.

Jesus nonetheless deals with her in kindness, frankness, and tender love. Although she may be asking honest questions in verses 12 and 20, they seem to be brimming with sarcasm, or at least skepticism.

Regardless, Jesus does not fall into a heated discussion about the “hot-button issue” (i.e., which mountain to worship on). Instead, he clearly states the truth: salvation is to come from the Jews. He then proceeds to extend this salvation to her.

He presents himself as the true, living water, the source of life and joy.

Jesus, even though he’s exhausted from his journey, nevertheless stops to speak to an unaccompanied Samaritan woman, who happens to also be promiscuous, and he chooses to reveal his messiahship to her. In that context, that fact is unthinkable!

What a challenging example for us!

After this tender, personal moment with Jesus, she proclaims Jesus as the messiah and tells everyone else in town about him. Her testimony brings other Samaritans to believe in him as the messiah—a Jew!

For us, when we share the good news with someone, we should approach them with love and truth, modeling Jesus’ care for the Samaritan woman. There couldn’t have been more intense divisions between them, and yet Jesus connected with her and shattered those divisions.

There are plenty of other examples of Jesus breaking down those boundaries. He heals the sick, even those with contagious leprosy; he heals the outcast, unclean people; he heals those with demon possession; he visits the poor beggar and the rich tax collectors; he heals the Roman officer’s servant and eats with prostitutes. There are countless, rich examples of his free-flowing love.

Reflect

When was the last time you were able to talk with someone who was significantly different from you, or on the other side of a dividing line?

Have you allowed cultural divisions or prejudice to prevent you from sharing your faith? Or maybe even from having a simple conversation?

What is the hardest for you to overcome when talking to someone who is significantly different than you? Is it race, culture, poverty, social status, politics, or religion?

Confess any prejudice that has prevented you from fellowshipping with other believers or sharing the truth with non-believers.