Encountering God the Son

“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”—John 4:14 (NIV)

A very dark part of American history took place not too long ago. It was the time of segregation, when white people and black people were totally separated—different schools, different bathrooms, different water fountains, etc. And unfortunately, it was because black people were seen as lesser than white people. But, segregation didn’t start with America; it goes way back in time.

Even in Jesus’ day, there was segregation. In John 4, we see Jesus having an encounter with a Samaritan woman, and He asks her for a drink of water. Her response shows how the culture was: “The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’” (John 4:9 NIV). You see, the culture back then was that Jews didn’t associate with Samaritans.

It’s sad, right? Here she is in the presence of Jesus—God’s Son, the Prince of Peace—yet she feels separated from Him. I love Jesus’ response: “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water’” (John 4:10 NIV). Instantly, He breaks down those walls. He tears down the separation and makes it very clear that when you go to Jesus, He’ll welcome you with open arms.

The encounter doesn’t end there though. We start to see a transformation in her life. Jesus actually calls out her sins. However, He doesn’t do it in a way that leads to condemnation, but conviction. He wants better for her. He wants more for her. He offers her a new way of life through living water and truth. And we get to see how this affect her as she becomes one of the earliest evangelists for Jesus. “‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?’ They came out of the town and made their way toward him” (John 4:29–30 NIV).

This was a woman who felt completely separated from Jesus. She was a Samaritan, and she didn’t believe she was worthy to be in His presence. But after she truly encounters Him, she realizes how welcoming Jesus is. He tore down every wall of separation. With Jesus “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for [we] are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NIV).

Jesus takes all the things that separates us and brings us to a place where we have the greatest thing in common: Him. So, whenever you feel separated from Jesus, just remember He’s waiting with open arms for you to draw near to Him.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”—James 4:8 (NIV)