Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Topic: The empty tomb 29
Reading: Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-15
Scripture: He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. (Luke 24:6)
Note: The Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob can be described as one person who was not proud of her past until her encounter with Jesus changed everything. Her name wasn’t mentioned but the supernatural encounter with Christ, who saw destiny in her, was to witness a quick transformation from a woman with a shady lifestyle to a preacher of the glorious Gospel.
With enough skeletons in her cupboard to last a lifetime of regret and disappointment, but still a young, pretty and attractive woman with 5 ex-husbands in her marital trophy cabinet. In addition, she had a live-in boyfriend to keep her company. She comes along forcefully as someone who couldn’t do without a male companion. She wasn’t new to the nuances of men and knew exactly where she could connect with men if she so desired; the well providing an excellent rendezvous among her repertoire of possibilities. No one needs reminding on the need and frequency of drinking water. Both genders need to drink water daily and as often as possible.
Living in a desert region, it’s not lost on the woman on the value of water in quenching thirst. Her shady marital history had forced her to be fetching water at noon to avoid becoming a victim of the usual women gossip. Most people would fetch water from dawn till when the sun starts to rise. Meeting a Jewish Rabbi at the well asking for water to drink from her, being a Samaritan woman, wasn’t one of her probabilities in her wildest dream. As expected, she immediately raised the racial and gender red flags between the Jews and the Samaritans.
Jesus’ mention of giving her a gift changed the discourse and her demeanour from that of protest to that of expectancy. She was wooed, yet she was nervous, because she has had men in her past offer her gifts, albeit with strings attached. Yet, this gift from Christ is different from her past gifts. It’s the gift of salvation fully paid with every nail, spear, stripe and thorn through the body of Jesus on the cross.
Food for thought: Jesus had to defy racial and class barriers, gender bias and cultural inhibitions to be able to have access to the woman and release her to fulfill her destiny.
Declaration: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:28)
© Author: Rev Fred Aboe
