27Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn't believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.
28-30The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, "Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?" And they went out to see for themselves. (The Message)
There are many ways to read this story of Jesus and the woman at the well. Today though I would like for us to consider the story from the perspective of expectations. The woman shows her expectations of how she will be treated by Jesus and the disciples show their expectations by their shock when they discover Jesus talking with the woman. The expectations of what is supposed to happen shape the event in a way that is almost comical if it weren't for the fact that the expectations almost keep the participants from truly encountering Jesus. To try to understand this story you almost have to look at each person individually and ask how they are seeing and hearing Jesus before you can put the whole experience together and understand what it might mean for us today.
Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:
- How do you think the women felt about her encounter with Jesus? With the disciples?
- Have you ever felt like you were an outcast and others wouldn't talk to you? How did it feel?
- Who do your family and friends think you shouldn't talk to? How do they communicate this?
- What can you do to bring Jesus into the conversations that you might have with people this coming week?
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