“The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
John 4:25-26. (RSV)
When Jesus’ disciples found Him at the well, they were shocked that He would be speaking with a woman alone, especially a Samaritan woman. Speaking with any woman by herself was a rule breaking act for His day.
Jesus respected religious, social and cultural customs of His day, as long as love for His Father was at the core of that custom, but He also knew that to save a soul, it is sometimes necessary to break those traditions and social customs.
We have our own cultural and social customs today. Saying please, thank you, hello, goodbye and tipping are all forms of cultural etiquette. We routinely greet someone saying, “How are you?” yet we’re not really expecting an honest answer, since it’s not customary to stay around and find out. It’s just a phrase we say in passing.
I can imagine Jesus in our society today, asking someone, “How are you?”, then pausing and looking intently at a person, waiting to hear how they really are. Who could walk away from that loving glance and powerful presence?
Jesus touched and talked to people wherever He went, and even to those who were forbidden by society, to be touched or talked to. He allowed a women known as the town prostitute, to anoint Him with oil, and kiss His feet. He touched lepers, who were highly contagious, and separated from society as outcasts.
Every person Jesus talked to or touched was in a season of their life that was, in some way, beyond hope or help. Besides lepers living with a death sentence, there were beggars, prostitutes, paralytics, demoniacs, blind, terminally ill and more.
Then there was the woman who He purposely waited to meet at the well. She had a lifetime of relationship problems, and was living with her fifth life partner. When she met Jesus, she was already at a stage in her life of being emotionally and spiritually crippled. Jesus spoke directly to her, one on one, which was against the social norms of His society. She was impacted by His presence, and His words changed her life. She was never the same again, and couldn’t stop sharing her joy wherever she went.
No one is too sick, too sinful, too contagious or too damaged to be saved by Him. When Jesus touched the paralytics, they didn’t just walk, they leaped for joy. We have all had some affliction or spiritually crippling period in our life, but if we have an encounter with Jesus, we will never be the same. He intends for us to leap again one day.
During the most difficult stage of our lives, if we keep Jesus in the conversation, He is preparing us for the leaping stage that is to come.
Jesus said a simple phrase to the woman at the well that changed her life. It wasn’t like any customary greeting that we say every day. He looked intently at her and said, “I am He”.
He still says that to each of us and it speaks to the deep place within us where His healing is needed. Jesus doesn’t need to ask how we are, because He knows how we are.
He wants us to know who He is, and whatever the need is, He is the One, who has the answer.
“I am He”, means “I am the one who will cross any boundary and break every cultural rule just to reach you.”Jesus broke some rules, but He healed all the broken hearts. He frustrated the traditionalists but gave hope to the hopeless, and proved that no one is unreachable.
He still touches, talks to us and heals us today, reminding us “ I am He”, and whatever we are going through, He gives us His living water that satisfies our thirst forever.
Lord, you are the One, our Messiah and deliverer. You know us more than anyone, and we know that through your words and your touch is complete healing, wholeness and joy. Amen