Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was making more disciples and baptizing more than John (although Jesus’ disciples were baptizing, not Jesus himself). Therefore, he left Judea and went back to Galilee. Jesus had to go through Samaria. He came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, which was near the land Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his journey, so he sat down at the well. It was about noon. (John 4:1-6, CEB)
This is the beginning of the story of the woman at the well. When Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman.
It is always interesting to me that the text tells us Jesus had to go through Samaria. Most Jews would go out of their way to go around Samaria. But Jesus goes to Samaria, to encounter a woman at the well Jacob had given to Joseph. This was to say that the covenant of God is not only with the Jews, but will be with all people. And the people we think should not be included are the very people Jesus had to go to.
Who are the people you would exclude, that Jesus had to go see?
Who are the people that want to exclude you and are not happy Jesus had to come see you?
We all are included because it isn’t up to us.
So love like Jesus.
Loving People. Loving God.
It’s so easy to say “I love God!” or “I love Jesus!” It’s one of those “unproveable” statements, it feels like. For some folks, it’s easy to say “I love EVERYBODY!”, then they add “Because God says that I have to….” I would suggest that’s not love, in truth. But here’s my current truth – I’m frustrated with a lot of things, and often “loving God” isn’t easy. I get frustrated with Him. I don’t like some things that He does, some things He allows, and that “trust” that some claim to have doesn’t quite come as easily to me as it once did. Loving God with ALL my heart, soul, mind, and strength – that’s a big ask. So, those final four words of your post actually put a bigger test to my faith and belief than might have once seemed obvious.
I agree when we add the because it isn’t love. Trust is the same word as faith and believe in the New Testament. They mean different things to us in English but in Koine Greek they are the same word. And it isn’t always easy.
Really it comes down to the last 4 words. It is that easy and it is that hard.