Encountering Jesus

Part 2 | Glimpses of characterization in the gospel of John

Jesus’ encounters in unexpected places
by Bruce Power

When Jesus passes through Samaria he decides to stop at a site with historic and practical significance - Jacob’s well. The well symbolized a unity of the people of God that had once been, when all the elements of the people of Israel had lived in community and anticipated the work of God in their future. But as Jesus stops at the well, John notes times have changed, in his day “Jews do not associate with Samaritans” (4:9). This seems an unlikely place for a life-changing encounter. After all, the dialogue with Nicodemus had not gone well, and he was a leader among his people, yet somehow unable or unwilling to discuss spiritual values.

The Samaritans were regarded as outcasts, those who had broken faith with their traditions, had married outsiders and been corrupted and turned from the true faith. While Jesus waits for his disciples to go into the town to buy food, Jesus sits beside this well associated with the father of Israel. Does Jesus reflect on Jacob’s wrestling with God, and his change of name to Israel (Genesis 32:28)? We don’t know. John doesn’t tell us. But he does tell us “it was about the sixth hour” (4:6) when Jesus sits by the well to rest. And as he rests a Samaritan woman comes alone to the well to draw water. Jesus asks for a drink.

Nicodemus encountered Jesus in the dark of night and remains in the dark as he leaves the scene. In contrast, the meeting with the woman takes place at high noon. But is there any hope? How can Jesus find a willing and open heart in the midst of a people understood to be estranged from the purposes of God? And if a religious leader, raised in the traditions of Israel cannot embrace the teaching of Jesus, and comprehend spiritual values, how can we expect a woman identified as an outsider to make such a leap?

But things go very differently in this dialogue than they had with Nicodemus. Jesus initiates a spiritual conversation and the woman does not get lost, or abandon the discussion. Unlike Nicodemus who simply disappears from the story, this woman remains to hear Jesus declare himself to be the “I am.” The woman has a transforming encounter with Jesus, the one the prologue to the gospel declares to be “the Word [which] was with God, and was God” (1:1), “the Word who became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” In this prologue, the introduction to his story of Jesus, John tells us that “all who received him, those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (1:12). The woman becomes a child of God.

What does the woman do with this new experience of God? She drops everything to hurry back to the town to tell everyone to come and experience this transforming relationship themselves. The contrast with Nicodemus is stark and telling. The woman, usually read as an outcast within a society of outcasts, would not be expected to be open to deep spiritual truth, or even able to comprehend it. But her spirit is open to the teaching of Jesus. She is willing to listen, to question, to evaluate, to embrace the new possibilities God is offering to her. Her response overflows into her daily living, she can’t imagine doing other than telling all who will listen about her encounter with this man Jesus. And though she cannot articulate every aspect of who and what he is, her heart knows her life has been changed and this is not something to be kept hidden.

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.
“‘They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of  what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world’” (4:39-42).

When Jesus leaves the Samaritan town to return to Galilee, at some point he returns to Cana. There “a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum” (4:46) seeks him out. He asks Jesus to heal his son. Jesus puts him off with a remark about people needing to see signs and wonders to believe, but the man is doggedly determined. His son is dying and he is desperate for help. Jesus tells him he can go, his son will live. “The man took Jesus at his word and departed” (4:50). As he is journeying home the man’s servants meet him with joyous news - his son is well. The fever left him “at the seventh hour.”

“Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he and all his household believed” (4:53).

John has framed three significant encounters within a section of his gospel marked by two stories that take place at Cana of Galilee. The first of these is the familiar story of Jesus at a wedding, where he turns water into wine. Working in the background, without the knowledge of the bride or bridegroom, or the master of the banquet - what we would call today the best man - Jesus’ mother draws attention to a potential disaster, a long-term embarrassment for this couple in their village and before their family. She asks Jesus to help, and he launches his ministry with this miracle, which “reveals his glory” and enables his disciples to “put their faith in him” (2:11).

In the stories of Nicodemus, the woman of Samaria, and the most likely Gentile royal official, we see a variety of responses to Jesus. Nicodemus encounters Jesus in the dark, and remains in the dark, though he should have the most potential to “put his faith in” Jesus. His status at the end of the encounter, and indeed, at the end of the gospel, is unclear. The woman meets Jesus at high noon, the brightest point of the day. It is clear that she is transformed by her faith. The royal official’s encounter is described as taking an hour later in the day than that of the Samaritan woman. His response is life changing as well. He comes to faith, and that faith extends to his household as well. Both of these characters “see the light” while Nicodemus remains “in the dark.”

What is John’s point in all this? An encounter with Jesus has the potential to be life transforming. But it also requires a response on our part. As you read over this section of the gospel (chapters 2-4), can you see the different responses to Jesus? What does this have to say to us about how people encounter Jesus? Do you see the same variety of responses today? Have you come to see the glory of God through an encounter with Jesus?

Read part 1 of this series.

Writer: When Bruce Power is not reading books on scripture and/or the ancient world, and listening to blues or jazz or baroque music, he may be teaching a course somewhere. Or who knows what he might be up to…

3 Comments to Encountering Jesus

1. Our Lord Jesus will continue to astound and surprise those that think they know Him by how He embraces those who do not know Him.
Barbara on October 9th, 2008

2. Thank you for your article Bruce, but when you say that the encounter with Jesus had not gone well, was that really the end of the story. Nicodemus appears twice more in the gospel narrative. John 7:50 where he stands to defend Jesus and 19:39 where he comes to honour the dead Christ. Whilst he left the encounter without a any declaration of faith his subsequent action would seem to indicate something happened.

   Barbara also raises an important point as to surprising encounters with Jesus. The Canticle based upon the prayer of St Patrick is worthy of note about our encountering Jesus in the most surprising people and places.

   Christ, as a light
   illumine and guide me.
   Christ, as a shield
   overshadow me.
   Christ under me;
   Christ over me;
   Christ beside me
   on my left and my right.
   This day be within and without me,
   lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
   Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
   in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
   This day be within and without me,
   lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
   Christ as a light;
   Christ as a shield;
   Christ beside me
   on my left and my right.
Paul Collings on October 11th, 2008

3. Thanks for your comments Paul. In the previous article I discuss the two other encounters you speak of. I think that the gospel intentionally leaves the outcome ambiguous. Yes you can read it as a positive response to Jesus, but the narration leaves other possibilities open. My guess is that the ambiguity is meant to tease the reader into thinking through his or her own options for responding to claims of Christ.
Bruce on October 11th, 2008

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