Paul and the Woman at the Well

 

la conversion den san Pablo - Murillo

When Jesus said ‘go into all the world and preach the good news’ (Mark.16:15) lets be honest, perhaps he didn’t know some of the people we would encounter. Let’s face it, there are some we are simply reluctant to speak to for fear, sometimes, of mortal peril. Then there are those we would rather not be associated with because of their reputation.

Given a choice, which of us would eagerly witness to the woman of Samaria (John 4), or to Saul the persecutor (Acts 9)? Jesus witnessed to both in a surprising way and with amazing results. When we consider these two conversations we see lessons for us in the way God works.

The first lesson is that God is no respecter of persons and doesn’t judge things as we do. Who would have gone to that much trouble to speak to a Samaritan woman, someone who denies the authority of Jerusalem, believes only the Pentateuch, and rejects the temple of the Jews down south?

Effectively, she is a member of a Jewish cult (John 5:22) Remember that the next time a JW knocks your door, or a Mormon stops you in the street.

We have all seen how society treats the “outcast” and perhaps too often we have reacted in the same way. Who would dare approach a man who would hold other’s coats while they stoned someone for being Christian? (Acts 8:1)

Jesus would and he did. Saul of Tarsus, ‘still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked for letters to the synagogues in Damascus so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.’ (Acts 9:1/2)

To the amazement, puzzlement, astonishment of Christians, Pharisees, and not least Saul, that journey whose purpose was the destruction of the church was to be a turning point in his life, as well as in the life of the church. Jesus would deal with such a man and, therefore, so should we.

The second lesson is that people come to faith in different ways. Conversion, of course, is always supernatural, a work of the Spirit. However, some come to it by words and reason, some by visions. Some come suddenly, some gradually, some reluctantly, some eagerly.

Our witness must meet the needs of the individual and there is no formula for “getting them in”. God, however, is in it all and we must trust to him the work of changing hearts. Our work is being witnesses (Acts 1:8)

The third lesson is that we should expect the unexpected. Who would have expected this woman to intelligently discuss issues of faith as she did?

• She knew the history of her people (John 4.12).

• She understood about the conflicting claims of Jews and Samaritans (v.20).

• She knew about, and seemed to live in expectancy of, the coming Messiah (v.25).

• Finally, although she perhaps didn’t understand it all, she recognised the importance of this encounter for everyone (vv. 28-29).

  How surprising!

Now, in our prejudging way, we might have expected to have this conversation with Saul perhaps, and surely the vision should have come to the Samaritan woman. But it was Saul of Tarsus who had to be knocked off his self-righteous pedestal by a vision, and the woman of Samaria who was ready to listen to a reasoned defence (although, of course, this conversation was just as miraculous in its way, v.18).

But how unexpected! Let’s not prejudge as we witness because we don’t know who might, like the woman at the well, be better prepared than we think to talk about the things of God. And who knows what God might be preparing to do with the men like Saul in our lives. Perhaps sometimes our prayer should be ‘open their eyes Lord,’ and other times, ‘knock him off his horse Lord!’