Come & See: Life Lessons From Women In the New Testament Exemplo

Come & See: The Samaritan Woman's Story

We all have a story. Some of it...we may be proud of. Other parts may have left some scars.

The Samaritan woman in John 4 knew more about the “other parts” - the stuff she wasn’t proud of. She had made some bad choices. She had a reputation and it wasn’t a good one.

Jesus met this woman on a not so random walk through Samaria. Scripture records that He “had to go through Samaria”.This wasn’t the usual route for Jews. In fact, they tried to avoid Samaria and Samaritans all together. But not this particular day or this particular Jew.

Jesus had to meet with this woman.

He talked to her about her life. She tried to change the subject but Jesus persisted. He explained to her that what she was using to satisfy her thirst was only temporary. She needed the “living water” so she would never thirst again.

He then reveals to her that He is the Messiah.

In scripture, we read several times where Jesus basically says, “Don't tell anyone who I am or what I've done” but to this woman, he reveals Himself as Messiah! Why would He entrust such an important revelation to her, the most unlikely of people?

Maybe that answer is revealed by what she did with the information.

“Come and see…"was her declaration.

She came out of hiding and went to where everyone else was. She was so excited to tell the people about Jesus that she left her water jar behind which was the very reason she went to the well to begin with. She wasn’t afraid to say that Jesus talked to her about her life. She didn’t hesitate to tell them that she met the Messiah.

She used her story to entice her village to meet Him.

Do you think your story disqualifies you from sharing the good news of the Gospel? Think again. The scars in our story serve as a reminder to us and others that a wound that once was open is now closed. It displays healing from our hurt.

Do you know who else used their scars to help a doubting friend? Jesus.

Tell your story, the good and the bad. Tell others about the One who changed your life. Tell them to come and see for themselves.

~Anu