I have studied the story of the Samaritan woman at the well many times. John 4 has been the subject of preschool flannel graphs, "Women of the Bible" studies, and even songs. So when this week's BSF question asked what new or deeper truth I learned about Jesus from that portion of scripture, I didn't think I would come up with much. I was wrong. What I noticed this time, after weeks of focusing on our son's addiction treatment, was that Jesus only named one sin--adultery. Obviously she, like all of us, had committed many more, but Jesus only mentioned one. I think there were several reasons he did this:
1) Jesus is merciful. He knows how much we can handle. I am so grateful that when I open myself to the Spirit to reveal the sins I need to confess, He does not dump a truckload on me. I have a truckload, but He only reveals one or two at a time. Seeing all my sins at the same time would cause me to live in discouragement or give up on sanctification entirely. And I can trust him to do the same for my son, revealing one sin at a time, gradually making him more like Christ.
2) Jesus is merciful. He did not call her an adulteress. He did not even name her sin. He told her to do something that helped her understand it for herself. Which is what Jesus does for us through his word.
3) Jesus is merciful. He revealed her sin so that He could reveal Himself to her. He did not choose a sin common to everyone like lying or hateful thoughts, he chose one unique to her, five times married and currently cohabiting. Her sin specialty so to speak. Not only did Jesus see her sin, He saw her need, He saw her. And as we learned on the road to Rimrock, knowing God sees you changes your life. And not only the Samaritan woman's life, but the lives of the people she told.
Jesus is merciful. He uses even our sin to reveal His glory. In which case, I must be a fireworks display of glory.
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