Lately I have been captivated by Jewish biblical history—especially as I follow the ministry to the Gentiles in the New Testament. It has brought the story of the Samaritan woman to life for me. Though morally I can’t relate to the lifestyle she led, I can relate to her Gentile heritage. Let’s take a stroll in her sandals as we step back in history. Maybe we can get a glimpse of what hearing the “good news” as a Gentile would have been like.

I loved the picture Stacy painted last week as the scene unfolded at the well. This woman, as labeled by that society, was shameful. But she must have known something was different about this Jewish man, Jesus. After all, she felt comfortable enough to go against cultural norms and visit with him.

She started to question Jesus about Jewish laws and practices, comparing them to her Samaritan teachings. But Jesus was quick to advise her that none of those practices would matter anymore because salvation would be for everyone. To this the woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” John 4:25 NLT

It almost sounds like she is ready to dismiss the whole conversation at this point. Perhaps out of frustration and not understanding she would have rather walked away, but the next four words Jesus says to her would change her life forever.

‘Then Jesus told her, ‘I Am the Messiah!’” John 4:26 NLT

Can you feel the chill that must have run down her spine? The sound of her heart racing? The astonishment that filled her eyes? I’m sure it took several seconds for those words to sink in. But when they did, she was on a mission to share her story and the salvation that was available to everyone.

At this time in history these were hard words to comprehend. Many believed that a Messiah was to come, but they could not grasp where the “law” fit in. Then to make matters more difficult, the Jews knew they were the chosen people, Abraham’s offspring. Now a Jewish man, Jesus, is claiming that He is the Messiah, here to fulfill the law for EVERYONE?

Whew! Do you see how this news was so powerful to the people of this time? The mere thought of salvation, grace, and eternal life for all was such a radical concept to process. In fact, many couldn’t accept it. Following the four gospels in the New Testament are pages filled with the challenges many apostles, disciples and missionaries faced while sharing the good news of Christ. I think the Apostle Paul sums it up best in his letter to the Galatians:

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29

I’m so thankful to the Samaritan woman and her story. To her, this news was life changing and something she could not keep quiet. From the encounter at the well she went and told her whole town of what transpired. The Samaritans pleaded with Jesus to stay a few more days so they could hear more; all because one ordinary woman took a step of faith and believed. So, I’ll leave you with this thought, one that I’m grappling with also. Does the good news pack as much punch now as it did back then? Have we become so focused on this temporary world that we forget we are heirs to Christ Himself, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and Heaven bound?