February 24, 2008 - "Leaving Our Water Jars Behind"

Title: “Leaving Our Water Jars Behind”
Text: John 4:5-42
Day: Lent 3A
Date: February 24, 2008

Every time I read or hear this story from the Gospel of John I find myself wondering about one curious little phrase. It is inconspicuously placed in the middle of our reading today. But try as I might, I cannot help noticing it. It jumps out at me every time I hear it. It is verse 28: “Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city.”

Now doesn’t that just seem odd? What was she thinking? Why would she walk all the way to the well, and then leave without the very thing she came to get? And – maybe more importantly – why would the writer of the Gospel of John tell us, make an explicit point to mention that she left her water jar? What is there to notice in that little phrase? Well, this week I decided that I would do a little investigating of my own to try and find some answers to my questions.

But we have to start at the very beginning. The text begins by describing in detail the setting of the story. Jesus was just leaving the region of Judea (in the south) and heading to Galilee (in the north). But we are told that he had to go through the land of Samaria in order to complete the journey. Then, at about noon, he came upon the Samaritan city of Sychar. This is a subtle little hint to let us know that it was right at the hottest part of the day. Jesus had been journeying for a while and, understandingly, he found himself getting weary under the midday sun. So he walked himself right over the local watering hole, which was known as Jacob’s well. This would have been the likely pace for him to meet someone in order to wrangle a drink. But it seems from our text that he was the only one there. So, there he was: all alone, thirsty, next to a functioning (and apparently famous) well with no bucket to draw even the smallest drop of refreshing water to his cracked lips and parched tongue.

Now, enter the nameless Samaritan woman. She had come to the well holding that water jar, surely intending to simply get her water and go home. I cannot imagine that she was prepared for the deep theological discussion that would ensue, or to encounter someone quite as perplexing and enigmatic as Jesus. So, logically, she approached the well and – like a well-mannered Samaritan woman of the time – probably intended on keeping to herself, not saying a word, simply going about her business and leaving.

But Jesus – as always – breaks down those barriers of communication and breaks the awkward silence by asking – actually demanding – a drink from her. The woman cannot help but find herself overcome with shock that a man would speak to her (since that was not customary for public interaction), and moreover that he – a JEW – would ask a drink of her – a SAMARITAN (since these two groups had long been at odds with one another).

The conversation that follows this initial request is long, convoluted, and even ironic at times. Jesus spends much of the conversation trying to use deep, abstract images to get the woman to understand who he is. He uses words like “living water,” “eternal life,” “spirit” and “truth” to help describe his true identity as the One Sent by the Father.

But the woman cannot see beyond the literal meanings of these words. She cannot understand – for instance – how Jesus intends on giving her some of this “living water” when he doesn’t even have a water jar!

So I came to the conclusion this week that part of what’s happening in this story is that the woman is so hyper-focused on her original task – she’s so focused on using that water jar – that she cannot possibly understand or comprehend what Jesus is trying to say. As long as that water jar is in her hands, that is all she is gonna think about. She cannot see that throughout this conversation Jesus is calling her to a more important task: the task of testifying, of witnessing, of evangelizing about her experience with Jesus.

That’s right…I said EVANGELIZING! I have to admit, I have always been a little scared of that word. To me, and to many others, it seems like a risky and gusty endeavor. I mean, come on! We’re Lutherans! When we hear the word ‘evangelism’ our minds immediately track to people like Jimmy Swaggart, or Benny Hinn, or Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Mormons! It seems presumptuous that we can go around telling other people about our faith. We’re afraid of being ridiculed. We’re afraid of being unable to rationally support our beliefs. We’re afraid that we cannot possibly put into words what we hold most dear.

I understand that…really I do. This was exactly what was going through my mind when I was asked to take part in an evangelism program in Denmark a few years ago. You see, when I was on this volunteer music ministry team, we travelled to Denmark for two months. Now, being the team leader, it was my job to be the first to meet our contact at each designated city. I had to get all the relevant information from them: where are we playing? What do you want us to do? Who is our target audience? And so on. But one night, the contact person surprised me by saying that he wanted us to go into town near all the bars and taverns beginning at 10:00 and do some street evangelism. “You know, go around and talk to the people as they leave the bars,” he said in his light Danish accent. “Invite them to come here to the church for a little while for some games and food and things. Tell them it would be fun.”

I really thought this guy was crazy! He wanted us – five Americans who didn’t know a lick of Danish – to walk around the street at night and encourage the winos, the lushes, the drunks to go have fun at a church?!?! But we were there, and our organization wanted us to do whatever the contact person wanted us to do. So, we reluctantly stomped into the streets starting at 10:00. And, you know, I have to say it went pretty well. We had fun talking with people, asking them about their experience with church, faith, and God. We invited them back to the church for some games and such, but many of them politely declined.

After about an hour or so of this, we decided it was time to head back to ‘home base.’ Now on our way back, we came across one lone man walking down the street. We decided that we ought to give it one last shot, so we got to talking with him. And I was oh so sorry that we did. It turns out that this guy was a Philosophy major at the local university and he knew all about Christianity…and he also knew very well why he didn’t believe any of it. It was my worst nightmare come true. By the end of the conversation, I felt like evangelism was an impossible task.

But that’s exactly what Jesus was calling this woman to do. He was calling her to begin a new life of evangelism. So, after a long, confusing discussion ranging all over the map from living water to her five husbands to a debate over the proper place for worship, the woman finally hears that call to a new life. Once Jesus boldly declares that he IS the Messiah, it’s like a lightbulb turns on over her head. She knows what she has to do now.

And with that, we find ourselves back at verse 28: “Then she left her water jar, and went back into the city.” She went back to the city to begin this new life of evangelism. A new life of telling others about her experience with Jesus. A new life of beckoning others to “Come and See,” to encourage them to experience Jesus for themselves. But before she could do any of that she had to put down that water jar. She had to let go of that thing that felt so right, so comfortable, so familiar. Then, and only then, was she able to fully take part in the new life that Jesus had offered her.

Now, I think one reason that we often struggle with the task of evangelism is that we don’t get a lot of opportunity to practice. And if we are uncomfortable evangelizing one another IN CHURCH, in this safe environment, then I think it’s unrealistic to think that we will ever do it OUT THERE, where it feels much more scary. So, today, I have a little disclaimer about my sermon: it is unfinished. Instead, you are going to finish it on your own. At some point before you leave the church today, I want you to talk with someone – anyone really – and tell them your faith story. Remember how I told you my faith story last week? Do something like that. Explain to them what your faith means to you. Tell the story about how your faith has changed over the years. Tell them how God has acted in your life. Whatever. Just put down your so-called “water jars,” those things that make you feel comfortable and just tell your story to the people around you. Then – here’s the important part – LISTEN TO THEIR STORY! I’m sure you will find out things that you never knew about those who are closest to you. Happy Conversations!

Amen.