In many places, racial, religious, and cultural differences divide us from one another. Jesus transcends these boundaries, bringing salvation to all peoples. In John 4, we see Jesus breaking through boundaries.
John 4:1-3 gives the reason why Jesus is on the move from His place in Judah at the end of the previous chapter. He is returning north to His hometown in Galilee.
What changes everything, though, is v. 4, “But He needed to go through Samaria.” Generally, the Jews avoided meeting Samaritans by taking a longer route around them. The Samaritans had intermingled with other races when the Assyrians led the northern tribes into captivity in 722 BC, and left behind Gentile captives from other lands.
In Exodus 34:11–16, the Jews had been warned against intermarrying with the Canaanites lest they turn the Jewish partners to worship the idols they served. Eventually, the Samaritans worshiped the Lord differently, such as holding only the first five books of Moses as divinely inspired, and not worshiping where the Lord indicated. So religious tensions kept the groups apart. (In our days, the relations between the two groups are cordial.)
Jesus entering the Samaritan community broke with tradition. Isn’t this what the love of God does? Draws people together? Genesis 12:3 gives us God’s master plan: “And in you [Abraham] all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Our Lord wants all families to unite by being joined to Jesus Christ. He desires to “reconcile all things to Himself” (Col. 1:20). Jesus, coming from the line of Abraham, will be the prophesied blesser of all people.
This is being effected through the gospel shared between people groups all over the world by anointed Christian missionaries. Paul the apostle, on his three missionary journeys, reached out to fellow Jews and their Gentile neighbors with the gospel. The gospel unites all peoples through Jesus.
What traditions and barriers keep you from reaching across the divide? Perhaps racial or cultural? Perhaps generational family feuds? In the prisons, cellmates are told to avoid those of other races lest tensions break out in bloodshed. This is understandable, but Christians can still pray for unity through the gospel and humility.
Interestingly, Jesus set the tone with the Samaritan woman by sitting weary at a well outside Sychar. He addressed her in the posture of someone in need, not as a superior. “Give me a drink,” He said (John 4:7).
Perhaps we can follow the same example of humility with those around us and do our part to diffuse tensions. Too many Christians are a bit militant with their Bibles and heavy-handed apologetic approaches.
When we are first transformed by the good news into the image of Christ, God breaks down the barriers in our own hearts that prevent Him from working as fully as He desires. When we understand this sanctification process that deepens our relationship with God, we’ll be more prepared to reach out to others.
Self-effort won’t do this work. Following rules and laws is not enough. Figuring out how to live a moral life won’t move the needle. It takes a life that grows in grace, the Spirit, and faith. God does the work, and we fall into line.
“Give me a drink,” Jesus said. Start with humility in your own walk with God. And watch the barriers come crashing down.
