Lent 2014
March 22, 2014
Read Scripture: John 4:1-6
[Jesus] left Judea and started back to Galilee. But he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.’—John 4:3-6
Our scripture today is a brief postscript to the previous story or a brief introduction to the next. Scholars are not sure and apparently the Greek is unclear. Jesus had been having great success in Judea, at least among the people—not so much among the Pharisees. It appears that his leaving Judea was a well-timed exit to avoid confrontation. That said, the decision to go through Samaria would indicate the need to make some haste in his exist, because good Jews did not normally traverse through Samaria. These two groups did not get along even though the land was full of history and antiquities regarding the people of Israel. One would think the Jew who had to travel through Samaria would not stop to rest anywhere but get on down the road as quickly as possible. Jesus rested by the well of his ancestor Jacob.
I wonder if our intercity schools are like Samaria to most of us. We drive by them with our doors locked and our windows rolled up on our path from somewhere acceptable to somewhere else acceptable. We might note the condition of the older buildings. We might wonder why anyone would let children play outside in the cold with just a hoodie for warmth. Most likely we will not even notice that we are passing a school at all unless the school zone crossing lights are flashing and then we may grumble at being slowed in reaching our important appointment.
Jesus set an example that we are called to emulate. He stopped to meet the neighbors on their ground. If you read the rest of the story you will see that he lets them serve him water and he in return gives them the water of life. Perhaps if we share a drink of water with the students, their parents and the staff at the intercity school, we will open the door to share the love God has given us to share.
Prayer: Jesus Christ help us be good neighbors not just to some but to all. Amen.
The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.