Messy Spirituality #4 – You Are Not Your Mess
Our lives are defined by several things. Our family of origin, our jobs, how much money we have or who we marry is usually used to define us. Those are all good things to define who we are. It is amazing that many times we let our mess define us. We think that because of what is happening in our lives that all we are is a mess. Jesus dealt with people who had a mess in their lives but he never treated them like they were the mess. There is a cool story in John about Jesus’ conversation with a woman beside a well.
She has a mess that she carries alone
In Samaria Jesus came to the town called Sychar, which is near the field Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his long trip, so he sat down beside the well. It was about twelve o’clock noon. When a Samaritan woman came to the well to get some water, Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.“ (This happened while Jesus’ followers were in town buying some food.) John 4:5-8 (NCV)
This woman comes to the well in the middle of the day to draw water. Not in the morning when the other women would be there. She faced so many side glances, whispers and judgment for her to be comfortable being around anyone. She carried this mess alone and Jesus walks into her life and is going to help her. You see He doesn’t care about your mess. She walks to the well alone with her mess and Jesus asks for a drink of water. He broke the ice with her so that he could help her break the weight of this mess she is carrying.
Jesus reveals her mess and is not afraid of it
Jesus told her, “Go get your husband and come back here.“ The woman answered, “I have no husband.“ Jesus said to her, “You are right to say you have no husband. Really you have had five husbands, and the man you live with now is not your husband. You told the truth.“ John 4:16-18 (NCV)
After a little small talk Jesus talks about the mess this woman carries everyday of her life. He wants to meet her husband and we she says she has no husband he calls her on it and lets her know that he understands and sees her mess. He looks into her mess and sees that she is carrying something that is too heavy for her to carry alone. That is the thing about God; He does not hide from or ignore our messes. He steps into them and helps us with them. He actually helps her name her mess and is going to show her that it is not who she is, but where she is right now.
She understands religion, but not grace
The woman said, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where people must worship.“ Jesus said, “Believe me, woman. The time is coming when neither in Jerusalem nor on this mountain will you actually worship the Father. You Samaritans worship something you don’t understand. We understand what we worship, because salvation comes from the Jews. The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.“ The woman said, “I know that the Messiah is coming.“ (Messiah is the One called Christ.) “When the Messiah comes, he will explain everything to us.“ Then Jesus said, “I am he—I, the one talking to you.“ John 4:19-26 (NCV)
This woman is well versed with the religions of her time and uses it to try to distract Jesus from her mess. She begins to look to find a religious solution to her mess. She does not understand yet that she is talking with the Messiah of grace that will help her take care of that mess. She is looking for someone with some answers to her life and mess; little does she know that she is talking to the one with the ultimate answers for her mess. Jesus can show her a grace and love that will lead her to the life she thought was gone and never to be found again. She is going to be introduced to someone who sees a mess and wants to help get it right. As she listens to Jesus she realizes that this will be different and she has to share her story with others. She goes back into town and brings them to the well to meet the one who did not care about any mess they had.
Jesus does not tell her to be quiet, but lets her share her story
They said to the woman, “First we believed in Jesus because of your speech, but now we believe because we heard him ourselves. We know that this man really is the Savior of the world.“ John 4:42 (NCV)
After her time with Jesus the woman shares her story. Her mess is no longer hidden, even though it never really was hidden from anyone. They all knew her story, which is why she went to well alone in the middle of the day. Usually Jesus asked people to keep their interactions quiet. He does not do that with this woman. Instead she tells her story and many people come to faith after hearing her story. Her life is about to turn around and become all that God wanted for her.
If we learn one thing from this story it is a simple statement that will change our lives forever. It is this statement: YOU ARE NOT YOUR MESS! Let that sink into your heart and soul. When God sees you he does not see a mess, but someone he loves. Do not be afraid to bring your mess to Jesus, he already sees it and is waiting for you to realize that you are not your mess.