Coversations with Jesus (Part I)

By Colleen Podmore

A Conversation with Jesus

This study is based on the idea that there are different levels of conversation. We can choose to engage in small talk, nothing personal, just the immediate environment, the weather etc. Good idea to be widely read and be able to discuss intelligently current events. This would be Level 1. Level 2 would be more personal, sharing something about you, asking the other person about themselves. Maybe hobbies, families, jobs etc. What worries you, what your opinions are? This level can be scarey as we become more vulnerable. Finally, there is a spiritual level where the conversation is concerned with our faith and beliefs about life and death and what we trust in the most.

John 4:1-26 There is a conversation recorded in the Bible between Jesus and a woman. I’m sure you know the one I mean. This conversation is very revealing. We can read it and put ourselves in the woman’s shoes or we can use it as a way to talk to people.

John 4:7 Jesus was travelling home because he didn’t want to provoke the Pharisees. It was midday and he came to a well in Samaria. A woman came to draw water at the well. (Imagine being alone with the Son of God? What would you say?) Jesus takes the lead in the conversation and asks for a drink of water, ‘Will you give me a drink?’ (Would this be the only place in Scripture where God asks for help?)

I find the dynamics of helping people can lead to a power imbalance. They are placed in your debt. Here Jesus puts Himself at a disadvantage by asking for help but it is the start of a profound conversation. We should look for these little opportunities to ask for help. Can you help me? Can you show me the way?

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John 4:9 His request shocked her. It was culturally unacceptable for a man to speak to a woman and even more so for a man from Judah to speak to a woman from Samaria, a Samaritan woman. The two cultures just did not associate (vs 9). But Jesus is sensitive to convention – he speaks to the woman in a private place. He does not embarrass her in front of others. Are there people that you just would not look at, let alone speak to?

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John 4:10 - Jesus pretty much replied, ‘Don’t worry about that – the actual drink of water is nothing – I can actually give you living water’

He’s still speaking to her at Level 1, nothing personal just stating a fact.

John 4:11,12 - She is intrigued. He has her attention – ‘Living water –what is it?’

Still at level 1 – nothing personal – just talking about the water.

John 4:11 Imagine what she in thinking - She looks at Jesus and sees nothing that indicates his majesty – just a simple Jewish man in dusty robes with sandals on his feet – nothing about him that would attract her to him. She may have been thinking, ‘Who is this man?’ – no one but a carpenter from Galilee. I’m sure we can all relate to how this woman must have been feeling. We often neglect the small things, the little things, the non-spectacular things – but even children can teach us.

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John 4:13,14 Jesus again entices her with images of this living water. Still at level 1 – nothing personal just a little more information about living water. He doesn’t use the first person but talks generally about ‘everyone’ – very non-threatening.

This is really an important statement about the Holy Spirit and about eternal life. In John 7:38, Jesus says, ‘If anyone believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive’.

(So the Living water is actually the Spirit of God who comes to live in the person who puts their faith and trust in Jesus and because they are sealed with the Spirit – they have eternal life – so the Living water wells up to eternal life. I’m sure this conversation is more for us today than for the woman of Samaria!)

When we speak with people we should speak the truth - just state the facts and not try to convince or argue or justify what we say. Let the words and the Holy Spirit do the rest

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John 4:15 He has her undivided attention! She says, ‘Give me this water!’ But she hasn’t quite understood the implications as her answer indicates. Now she has taken the conversation to the next level, not Jesus – revealing a need she has for rest from the burden of life. Jesus had made her thirsty for this kind of water because life is hard, but she has no idea He was talking about the Holy Spirit.

I think we need to learn how to listen to what people say and not to talk at them but it is a conversation that unfolds and not a monologue where we do all the talking.

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John 4:16-18 Jesus has her full undivided attention – time to close the sale. He wants to release this daughter from slavery, from bondage, but the next step is in her hands. She must admit that she is in need – she must admit that she needs help. Spiritual level stuff. But notice how Jesus deals with the question of her sin.

Jesus is so kind – ‘Go call your husband’ He says. He didn’t say – You are a sinner and must repent. Isn’t it marvellous the way she confessed to him –‘I have no husband ‘–(perhaps she thought Jesus would make a good husband and wanted to let him know she was available?)

In a way she has given him permission to continue speaking at this level and He reveals that He knows her situation. This is the thing that really catches her – not learning about the holy Spirit or the living water – but that Jesus knew all about her (in vs29 she says, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did’ – seems like a bit of an exaggeration but maybe we only have a summary of their conversation?)

We often do not know these details about a person. We know they are human beings with sinful natures who struggle as we do and who need to be set free and this is enough. The Holy Spirit knows the details as Jesus did in this instance. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our conversations? Are we aware that a lot can be going on behind the scenes and are we aware of the clues indicating this? The tear in the eye, looking away etc?

Jesus can say what He said, but can we –when we are talking to people? Often we are given insight and knowledge but it is to help, to pray and not to expose - Let us not provoke people to anger. Let us be gentle and considerate and leave room for the Holy Spirit to convict of sin and righteousness and judgement (John 16:9)

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John 4:19,20 At this point the conversation is a little too close to home – enough of the spiritual level stuff, let’s get back to the more impersonal level- so the woman throws in a red-herring to deflect the conversation away from her. I think this is valid but it can be where arguments start. We must be careful not to get into arguments. We may win the argument but loose the soul.

John 4: 21-24 Jesus has touched her soul and freely gives her and us more information

John 4:25 Finally, she admits to being overwhelmed. This is what I know – this is who I will listen to

John 4:26 Jesus answers to her – I am Messiah!

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Who has God brought near to you? Let’s take what we have learned about conversations and draw near to people and with grace and gentleness, plant a seed, whisper in their ear and with our actions tell them about the Saviour who loves them. May God bless you.

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