February 24, 2008
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The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church Pr. Per Inge
Vik At the well with living water When scientists look for life on other planets, it is a trace of water they are searching for. Water and life belong together. That is also reflected in the texts for this Sunday. In the O.T. text we heard the story about the Israelites thirsting for water in the wilderness, and how God through Moses provided it. The sermon text talks about living water (v.11) and water gushing up to eternal life (v.14). It’s a blessing, more important to us than we think about on a daily basis, to have enough supply of clean water. In many areas of the world there is a great lack of good water. Among the Bedouins in the desert they say that there is a crime that is worse than murder: that is to discover a water spring in the desert, and not tell others! I have been at Jacob’s well in Samaria a couple of times. I have tasted the water from the very deep well that was dug before the patriarch’s time. So it must be around 4000 years old now! A Franciscan monk hoisted up water for us. I can testify that it was fresh. The taste reminded me of running mountain water in Norway! Jacob’s well is situated between the two mountains Gerisim (the mountain of Blessing) on the one side, and mount Ebal (the mountain of curse) on the other. Nowadays it is hard to get into the area. It is also dangerous, because of the conflict between the Jews and the Palestinian Arabs. The conflict is not less hostile today than between the Samaritans and the Jews 2000 years ago. I am amazed at the courage Jesus shows in breaking both through the hostile barriers between ethnic/ religious groups, and in addition the distance there was between genders, as he approaches the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus shows strongly and clearly both the human and the divine side of his own personality in this story. The first he is doing, is humanly spoken the most natural thing possible. After a long wandering in the heat of the sun, he asks for water. Let us learn from Jesus and from the Salvation Army to take human needs seriously and listen to the daily part. It is a door opener to introduce the things that can meet people’s thirst on the deeper level, and help us manage messy lives. This lady herself is also very surprised that Jesus makes contact with her. She is at the well at noon instead of at sunrise, as was the usual. The heavy work of walking to the well, hoisting up the water and carrying it home, is easier in the cool morning hours than when the sun is at its highest in the sky. So then the well also was a meeting point for women at dawn. Probably in order to avoid seeing anyone, this lady chooses to come at a more inconvenient time. So what happens? All of a sudden her life is being changed. In the middle of the ordinary, she encounters the divine. The living water. The Messiah. The One who knows her deeper than she herself does. And so she becomes the first missionary to non Jews! She forgets her bucket of water. She runs home. She shares what has happened to her. And her fellow citizens soon understand that something significant has taken place. They come to the well, to Jesus themselves, and they believe in him. So in fact this story is the starting point of World Mission! Salvation comes from the Jews, Jesus states today. The good message of salvation for all peoples, starting with the Jews, finds its way further and further out. Beginning in Jerusalem, where our Lord was crucified, died and was raised from the dead on the third day. From there it is spread in all tongues to all tribes, to the ends of the world. Jesus shares his good message in the framework of a conversation. Just like last Sunday. I find this fascinating! A week ago we heard the beautiful story about Jesus and Nicodemus. Their nightly conversation helped the respected and wise old man to understand that there is a completely new start needed, a new birth, in order to come into the Kingdom of God. Today Jesus continues to include into his kingdom, in the conversation at the well with a person that had a completely different background and life situation than Nicodemus. Whosoever the persons are, whatsoever situation we are in, isn’t it amazing to see how these conversations have the effect to open blind eyes and make life change completely? I feel that these Bible texts invite us to do the same. As we share of our lives and help each other to understand the Bible, Jesus himself comes into our conversation and joins us. The disciples thought that someone had given Jesus food while they were away buying something to eat. Then he told them what his food was. Jesus said: My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. That was his unique task. But as we heard 2 weeks ago, we neither live by bread alone. But by every word that comes from God’s mouth. We are gathered at the well with living water today. Now in the middle of Lent. Let me encourage you to ask yourself some important questions: “What is my food? What gives my life energy? Do I spend enough time and focus on that? Do I give that the priority it needs?” Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, who was, is and shall always be one, true God from eternity to eternity. Amen |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |