The Marvelous 'Reach' Of Jesus

It's amazing!  We are so stubborn, but Jesus is so willing to tackle: any obstacle -- any prohibition -- any barrier -- to reach us!

The Samaritan woman featured in John 4 (John 4: 1-30) is a prime example.  Why Jesus traversed numerous, varied barriers to reach her, as they encountered each other, at Jacob's Well.  

A first barrier was the women's identity as a Samaritan.  Why Jews (like Jesus) were not to associate with Samaritans.  And for good reason:  Samaritans were considered half-breeds, because of their openness to marrying Gentiles -- and -- their tendency to dabble in pagan worship.

Yet -- in spite of the woman's despised status -- Jesus reaches out!

A next barrier was the Samaritan woman's identity as a woman.  I mean according to Rabbinic oral law, men could not greet women in public, let alone converse with them, as Jesus did with the Samaritan women.

Yet -- in spite of the woman's tainted status -- Jesus reaches out.

A last barrier was the women's identity as a social outcast.  I mean John 4:6 infers the women is branded immoral -- shunned -- as she's forced to draw water at an odd time, the sixth hour -- noon time. But also an odd location -- for as William Barclay notes, Jacob's Well was a half a mile from the woman's hometown of Sychar, which also had a well, but a well apparently not available to the Samaritan woman -- because of her tainted reputation.

Yet -- in spite of the women's shunned status -- Jesus reaches out.

Jesus still reaches out to shunned -- tainted -- despised people.  People like us.  For like the Samaritan woman -- we too feel 'on the outs' with God -- and -- others at times.  And yet, Jesus keeps pursuing us -- reaching toward us -- crossing barriers for us.  

I remember once when one of our kids -- who will go unnamed -- got caught in a quandary that was dicey and unseemly.  I mean it was a mess, and rather threatening.  But even though our kid was two hours away -- and it was seven o'clock at night -- Robin and I jumped in the car and drove 'the two hours' -- at an inconvenient hour -- just to put our arms around our kid.  As I remember it -- we met at IHOP and had pancakes together.   But it made all the difference in the world as our kid knew: we'd 'do anything in the world' to rescue and bolster their life.

Let that encourage you, whenever you feel far from God.  For no matter who you are, or what you've done, Jesus is coming after you.

For Jesus will do anything to rescue and bolster your life.  

And so in your hour of 'distance and despair' -- anticipate Jesus 'doing pancakes' with you.  Pursuing you.  Crossing barriers for you, as well.

For Jesus keeps reaching...and reaching...and reaching...