Come See

12.18.11

John 4.28-30 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. NIV

In her excellent book, Jesus for Adults, Linda Rios Brook makes the point that the Samaritan woman in John 4 had to be more that what meets the mind’s eye in the narrative. We are usually given just enough information about the woman to make the conclusion that she was less than acceptable because of the, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” statement. Rios gives a perfectly acceptable explanation about the woman that lends credibility not only to who she is and what she says in her conversation with Jesus, but also the fact that she was able to convince the locals to come and see Jesus for themselves. In telling others about Jesus and our ‘finding’ of Him, credibility is a huge part of both the conversation and the persuasion.

Why did Jesus talk to this woman? Why wasn’t His conversation with someone else? It is fairly well accepted that Jesus went through Samaria in the first place because He was on a divine appointment to meet with this woman at that place on that day. She obviously knew enough of history and culture to be more than just some immoral woman. She obviously had some influence in her community to get the locals to, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.”  And they did. Who listens to societal outcasts (if indeed she was one) making outlandish statements? The point of Rios’ explanation is that we should not be so quick to make a judgment about the Samaritan woman and write her off as some sleaze.

My point in writing today is what do others think about our testimony of meeting the Man who told us everything we ever did? Do they see Him in our lives? Are they even remotely  curious about how we live and what we say? Do we have any credibility with them?

One of the most noticed people out there in the pop-culture sphere today is a guy name Tim Tebow. He has sure made a splash on the scene in the National Football League. He’s been all over national sports media. The mention of his name makes some folks smile and other folks cringe; some really like him and some really hate him. Tebow is not only a talented professional athlete, he’s also professes to be a devout follower of Christ. Tebow is one who could say, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.” And people would. Tebow has credibility… at least for now.

My life, as a follower of Christ, means nothing if I have no credibility. If I profess one thing and live another, folks’ll see right through that: sooner, or later. What kind of influence do I have on the job and in my neighborhood? What kind of influence do I have among my relatives? How about with my kids (some of our greatest fans or most ardent critics…depending…)?

Credibility means everything and the more we surrender to Christ, the more credible we are. We may not be listened to; we may be ridiculed; but our lives will reflect a relationship with Someone that there is no denying. As followers of Jesus, the Christ, our lives are continually being sized up: does what we say match up with what we do? And the invitation to come see a Man who knows about everything I’ve ever done and still accepts me rises or falls on whether we are believable or not.