"The Walls Come Tumbling Down"
Sermon Presented February 27, 2005
John 4:5-30, 39-42
Did you ever stop to think that lonely people build walls so that they won't be hurt by rejection? Our text this morning concerns one such person. Our leading character creates a wall to avoid human contact by coming to draw her water in the heat of the day - after the other women from the village have come and gone. Rejection and lack of friendships are painful reminders of her past.
She has another characteristic that many of us can relate to. She bottles up her pain and anger and then in an unpredictable moment, thoughts and words that she probably doesn't recognize pour forth. Hear her story as recorded in the 4th chapter of John's gospel, verses 5-30, 39-42. (Read text.)
I used this text for a sermon several years ago, and at that time, I saw a strong liberated woman. I thought: "If she had that kind of courage in her repressive society, then she's someone I want to emulate." But this time when I look at the text I see her as one who is much like me. I see my propensity to shove things down until there's no more room to stash them and they come tumbling out in unexpected outbursts. I see her anger concerning her treatment as a Samaritan, as a woman and as a person with five failed marriages suddenly erupt - not as courage but as rage.
I can recall sitting in a seminary theology class and listening to a male student sound forth on his belief that women shouldn't be pastors. My face reddened and my hand shot into the air. That wasn't courage, it was anger that caused me to speak. The same reaction rose in me when another male student said that there wasn't one seminary professor who was conservative enough to state in class that women shouldn't be pastors. I unloaded on him too. I relate to the woman in our text better than I want to admit.
In a society where women are to remain in the background, this woman in our story speaks out with a new voice as she boldly questions the religious practices of the day. She dares to ask the difficult questions and she wants answers. She doesn't like the uppity attitude of the Jews who think they're better that the Samaritans, and she doesn't like going to the well in the heat of the day in order to avoid the snubs of the other women. She doesn't like the walls that separate people from fellowship and worship.
Things aren't much different today than they were 2000 years ago, are they? Injustice abounds in the workplace, housing, churches and social clubs because of race, country of origin, gender, sexual orientation and religious faith. Swastikas, burning crosses, hangman's nooses, Confederate flags and hate-filled picketers are still visible in our world. Walls come down slowly.
Jesus is thirsty and the well is deep, but he has no way to get the water so he asks for a drink. But instead of demurely lowering her bucket and offering him a drink, the woman throws his request back in his face: "Why do you ask me to do this? You Jews think you're better than everyone else and won't drink from the cup of a Samaritan. Aren't you afraid you'll be contaminated?" She's surprised at his request and suspicious of his motives, and I imagine both of them are surprised at her boldness!
Jesus' reply sounds cocky to her. He claims to have living water and yet he can't get water out of the well. He has no bucket, no nothing! Does he consider himself greater than Jacob for whom the well was named? But the thought of living water sounds enticing because she would never have to come to the well again. She doesn't understand his offer.
Jesus knows her past. He knows that she has had five husbands and is living with someone who isn't her husband. But even though he knows her background, he accepts her anyway. He doesn't allow her tough exterior to conceal her longing heart.
Another thing I realized as I prepared this sermon is that she isn't the young woman with loose morals that I imagined, but is probably an older, leather-skinned woman who has experienced so much hardship that her face is painted with it. Loneliness, fear of abandonment and rejection are obvious in her eyes. I picture her cloaked in grief and sadness. She needs inner healing and acceptance before she can hear the truth of Jesus' message.
When Jesus relates his understanding of her past, she believes he is a prophet. I'm sure she's not proud of her past. Five husbands have rejected her - for whatever reason. Maybe she's a lousy cook or housekeeper or maybe she can't have children. Maybe she's too confrontive and questioned them as she does Jesus. Maybe some husbands died. Because she doesn't want to dwell on this unpleasant topic, she changes the subject and questions the practice of maintaining different places of worship for Jews and Samaritans.
Jesus immediately gets to the heart of the gospel. He tells her that the time will come when it won't make any difference where people worship as long as they worship God in spirit and in truth. When she replies that she knows that the Messiah is coming, Jesus tells her that he is the Messiah.
At this moment the disciples return. They are astonished that he's speaking with a woman but no one dares question him. Do you notice the contrast? They are afraid to question him and the woman throws questions and comments at him right and left. It's a different kind of a relationship. It's amazing what respect and acceptance will reap!
The woman is so touched by Jesus that she rushes to those she ordinarily avoids. Her enthusiastic message captivates them and many go with her to the well to verify what she says.
The woman plants a seed with her community. She tells the story of meeting Jesus and she tells it enthusiastically, but the villagers must respond. Many go to see and hear Jesus because of her testimony. They like what they hear and they invite Jesus to stay. Many believe what he says. What do they believe? The text says that they believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world.
The boundaries were crossed because Jesus chose to cross them, and if we are to be followers of Jesus we will also cross boundaries. We will go where we have not gone before. We will accept those we do not presently accept. We will love and respect those we do not love or respect. That's the way to share the love of Jesus.
What walls do we erect? I will offer several and you can decide which are valid for you.
- Piety. "I'm more spiritual than you." This barrier splits churches as well as families and friendships.
- Politics. "I'm on God's side." An interesting aside to this is the refreshing camaraderie we see between the two former presidents Bush and Clinton.
- Liberal versus conservative. This splits churches, political parties, neighborhoods, communities and nations.
- Sexual orientation. Another barrier that splits families, churches, denominations, communities and nations.
- Education. "You're ignorant to believe as you do."
- Social status. "You live on the wrong side of town, went to inferior schools, drive the wrong car, etc."
- Appearance. "Your dress, hair, body piercings, tattoos, makeup are unacceptable."
- Nationality/Language. "I can't understand you and I'm not willing to try!"
- Religion. Islam, Hindu, Jew, Catholic, Pentecostal, Main-line denominations. "Mine is the only way to God."
- Marital Status. Divorced, single, partners.
- Mental Health Issues, age differences, and physical and mental disabilities.
In order to break down the barriers, we must communicate with one another. We must listen to the other. When we get to know one another and accept each other as children of God, the walls will come tumbling down and we won't need the hurtful rhetoric that we hear exhibited in the political and religious arenas. We need to be bridge-builders and not ones who erect walls.
Another thing I see in this story is the encouragement to ask questions. Some people are afraid to question God or people in authority for fear of reprisal or being made to look stupid. We have permission to ask the tough questions over and over again if necessary. If we don't ask the questions we can't know if we need the answers.
We're stuck with many of our human characteristics.
I will always be white, female, Christian, straight and divorced. But
these characteristics shouldn't create walls. God calls us to appreciate
our differences and work to bring down the walls of separation. But
as with Jesus, we may need to purposefully go where we haven't gone
before, speak with people we don't ordinarily converse with and share
the good news of the gospel that the Messiah truly has come and is the
Savior of the world. When we follow Jesus' example and the woman's example,
the walls will come tumbling down, and we will be rewarded with new
friendships and new understanding.
