April 18, 2022
Restoring Broken People
“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. (John 4:29-30 NIV)
Precious one, if you know someone who has fallen and their broken your job is to love them, pray for them and restore them. Whether you are a man or a woman, if you have ever had a broken heart, God loves you and desires to restore you. The journey of transitioning from the Samaritan woman to a soul winner for Christ can be a painful one until you have an encounter with the Messiah yourself. John 4:4-42 recounts the story of the Samaritan Woman. In one version of the Bible, it says, ‘Jesus said, it was necessary to go by way of Samaria.’ Why was it necessary for Him to go to Samaria? He arrived in the heat of the day, tired from the long hot walk, and He waited at Jacob’s well. All the other women went in the cool of the day with their pots to get water, why was the Samaritan woman waiting until noon when it was so hot? Could it be the other women were gossiping and mocking her? Soon the Samaritan woman arrived, and Jesus asked her for a drink of water. She said, why are you talking to me? You’re a Jew, and I am a woman and a Samaritan – the Jews have nothing to do with Samaritans. Everyone knows we are the lowest rank of people and treated as second-class citizens. Why are you asking me for something to drink? (John 4:7-9)
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and whom you are speaking to, you would ask Me, and I would give you living water.” (John 4:10) “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his family enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” (John 4:11-15) Jesus asked her, go get your husband! She said, ‘I don’t have a husband. He said, ‘you answered correctly, you have been married and divorced five times, and the man you’re with your just shacking up with him (my version)!’ She said, ‘You are spot on!’ (John 4:16-18) Why had this woman been married and divorced five times and just living with a man? Had she been abused and perhaps betrayed? Falsely accused or rejected? Abandoned? Clearly, she had trust issues because she was non-committal, she was living with a man, but the goodness of God draws broken hurting people to repentance! (Romans 2:4)
Jesus had a conversation with her about worship and told her God is a spirit, and true worshippers worship God in spirit and truth. (John 4:19-24) He told her, ‘I am the Messiah!’ (John 4:25-26) The woman got so excited she left her pots at the well and took off running to her city. Please note, in that day, her pots were one of the most valuable commodities she had. They were her only resource to get water for her family. The Bible doesn’t say that Jesus forgave her of her sins that day, but we know He did! For she took off running to her city and yelled to everyone, ‘come and see a man who told me all I ever did, and they came!’ (John 4:28-30) Many Samaritans came to Christ that day! Could it be that God could possibly use a man or a woman who has been married and divorced five times and just living with a man/woman to reach his/her city? I believe so! I can relate to the Samaritan woman because I have experienced brokenness, but Jesus, the Messiah healed me and restored me, and if He can do it for me, He can do it for you! Have you been hurt or broken? Jesus loves you. Allow Him to smear His healing love, the healing balm of Gilead all over your wounds, and restore you! Accept His love; He will draw you close to Him and restore you!
