John 4:27-42 (NRSV)
Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him.
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’
Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’
"Come and see a man who has told me everything that I have ever done!" That could be good and bad. Obviously, for the Samaritan woman with a sordid life, this encounter was probably quite embarrassing. Nonetheless, she was so excited that Jesus might be the messiah, she ran back to town and told everyone about him.
We pick up the story from Saturday's reading and learn that regardless of what Jesus told her, she invited the whole town out to meet him. John uses the time the woman has gone to the city for the disciples to encounter Jesus and ask him if he has been able to eat something. We should remember that they are in Samaria, and Samaritans do not share things with Jews and vice versa. Jesus takes the opportunity to explain to his disciples about the place they are in and how there is ample opportunity to share the message that "the fields are ripe for harvesting."
The passage tells us that many in that city believed in Jesus because of the woman's testimony. After that, the Samaritans, who don't share things in common with Jews, invited Jesus to stay with them. Many more came to believe by spending time with Jesus, and they proclaimed him, "savior of the world."
I would be a little freaked out if a man came up to me and told me "all that I have ever done." Especially if I was trying to hide it in some way. We should realize that God knows it all, our good and our bad. During the season of Lent, it's our opportunity to admit the sin in our lives and turn to God for forgiveness. We are to go deep and go to God will ALL our demons, not just the ones that are evident to the world. Yes, even the hidden things that we are afraid of even admitting to God. It's ok; God forgives. God cannot save us unless we acknowledge that we need to be saved.
