On Mission

             One of my Bible Study groups is currently studying the Gospel of John.  As I read through Chapter 4 this week, there was one verse that I kept reading over and over.  Verse 4 says, “Now he had to go through Samaria” (NIV84).  Jesus was traveling from Jerusalem in Judea, North to Galilee.  Samaria lies between Judea and Galilee.

At first glance, it appears to be an insignificant statement.  If Samaria is between the place where he left and his destination, it seems clear that “he had to go through Samaria.”  It’s like traveling from Kentucky to Florida, you must go through Tennessee.

However, the more I thought about it, the more puzzled I became.  It’s not as simple as we might think.  The Samaritan people lived in Samaria, and the Jews did not like the Samaritans, who were mixed-blooded—part Jew and part Gentile.  The hostility between the two groups was so great that Jews routinely crossed over the Jordan and traveled along the East side of the river to avoid going through Samaria—even though the journey took twice as long. 

Jesus was a Jew, so he had a choice.  He could have crossed over the river and avoided Samaria completely, but He chose to go through Samaria.  It wasn’t just a choice to shorten His travel time.  The Scripture makes it clear that He was “compelled” to go through Samaria.  The question is why?

When you read further in Chapter 4 and see His encounter with the woman at the well, His reason for going through Samaria becomes clear.  He was on a mission!  The woman was drawing water in the heat of the day—a clear indication that she had been rejected by the other women of the village.  As her life story is revealed, it becomes clear that she has led an immoral life.  Yet, Jesus traveled through Samaria for one purpose.  He had an “appointment” with that woman! 

Through His discussion with the woman, Jesus confirmed His humanity when He asked for a drink (vs.7).  He confirmed His deity when He told her everything about her life (vs. 17 & 18).  He confirmed His purpose when He revealed for the first time that He was the Messiah (vs. 26).  He made it clear that salvation was to come through the Jews (vs. 22), but by His interaction with this Samaritan woman, He broke down the cultural barriers between Jews and Samaritans—perhaps an early indication that Gentiles would also be included in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus had an appointment to keep.  He was on a Mission and He allowed nothing to stand in His way. 

We are also on a mission.  Jesus gave us the mission of telling the whole world about Jesus.  My church defines the Mission as “helping everyone find and follow Jesus.”  To fulfill that mission, we may have to go to places we don’t like, talk to people who are very different from us, and recognize that even the worst of us are still loved by God. 

The question is:  Do we see our Mission as discretionary, or do we see it as a command?  Jesus “had” to go to Samaria.  Where do we “have” to go to fulfill our mission?

John 4: 4 – 42

Matthew 28: 19 – 20

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