Risk taking mission and service

This Weeks Theme: Risk Taking Mission and Service

This weeks Text: John 4:1-42

John 4 relates to us a very familiar story; the story of the woman at the well. This is the longest recorded conversation with Jesus in any Gospel, and yet our familiarity with it has caused us to be blinded to the absolute and utter danger involved in this seemingly chance meeting.

If Jesus had been “caught” speaking with this woman at all his status as a godly teacher would have been tarnished at best or destroyed at worst. This woman was first and foremost just that – a woman. Secondly, she was a Samaritan – a member of what the Jews considered to be a cult, which defiled their faith and stabbed them in the back politically. Thirdly, she had a pretty shady background with five previous marriages and a live in lover. Nothing about this woman said talk to me, yet Jesus risks it all to fulfill his mission on earth.

We often use the phrase, “following God” or “following Jesus” – to many on the outside of our faith, this makes no sense! How can you follow what you cannot see? Fair point. Yet, we continue to “follow Jesus” by reading his story, learning from his example and going where he would (and still does) go.

If we are going to continue to call ourselves “Christians,” or Christ-followers, if we will be like minded with Christ, if we will see the transformation of lives and communities take place in our neighborhoods, in our schools, in our city – we must go where he goes. And Jesus is always going into the wild places, into risky situations, to unloved people.

And so, we must too.