Had To, PT 4

John 4:4 Jesus had to go through Samaria.

You know, I never understood the phrase “had to”.

·      I had to go here or there

·      I had to do this thing or that, or my favorite

·      I had to buy those shoes (ok, let’s be honest, shoes should not be listed here. But for all intents and purposes, let’s just go with it-lol- buy the shoes)

For one to say they “had to”, insist that there was a compulsion, necessity or even a requirement. No deferment. There was something that needed prompt attention or tending to.

Following this line of thought, who know my perspective would change- growing both narrower and deeper, simultaneously. Who know that my whole world would take on a new shape- all for the best.

I have been reading through the book of John for a little while. I admit, I have been taking my time and have enjoyed being in awe.

Chapters 1-3 have been quite enlightening. Interest piqued, all systems are gone and I am locked in. As I began to read Chapter 4, something in me shifted. Like murky water turning crystal clear.

 I fell in love. And John 4:4-42 became the genesis of it all.

In all my years I’ve never really seen my whole self in Scripture as I did in the walls of these roaring words- had to. To be more precise, John 4:4 states, Jesus had to go through Samaria.

I’d love to believe it was just about the woman at the well, or the disciples, or maybe it was the community or even Jesus.

For Jesus, not even he can override what God has spoken or plan. Nor does he desire to.  In John 5:19 Jesus states, “I assure you that the Son can’t do anything by himself except what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.”

When it was the appropriate time to go to Galilee, he took the route many others avoided. Direct. No short cuts. Just a straight path that had to take him through Samaria. You see, there are places even the law would not touch. Places too high, or maybe even too low. Grace specializes in low places, and brings down every high place. Grace saw Samaria. Grace heard the cry of a woman, a people, and. a city; all outcasted. And redeemed it ALL. Grace redeemed the woman by the well by revealing itself and offering living water, Grace offered himself and worship to the people who casted the woman out. Grace redeemed a woman, a people, and a city.

Let it be known, that at some point in our lives, we are Samaria. All unclean by someone else’s standard. All avoided by one or persons. All talked about one or more friend. All thirsty and in need of a Savior. A Savior that was thirsty for the unclean, thirsty for the hurt of a woman, the discarded and the avoided. He was thirsty for it all; yet, instead of receiving water, he gave of himself as living water.

Let it be known, that at some point in our lives, we are Samaria. All unclean by someone else’s standard. All avoided by one or persons. All talked about one or more friend. All thirsty and in need of a Savior. A Savior that was thirsty for the unclean, thirsty for the hurt of a woman, the discarded and the avoided. He was thirsty for it all; yet, instead of receiving water, he gave of himself as living water.

When Jesus offered living water; not just a woman, not the disciples, or the community was made clean, but an entire city. We all have a Samaria within us that he has rescued and redeemed- and for that I am forever grateful that he had to go through Samaria.