Page 416 … the Woman at the Well
You then mention John 4:18, noting that Jesus “shamed the woman at the well by pointing out to her that he knew she was living with a man who was not her husband.”
How fitting that you would mention this scene from the Bible, my Friend, and how fitting as well that you would so drastically misinterpret it! For in reality, when we look at the entire passage mentioned in John 4, we can see quite clearly that Jesus was not shaming the Samaritan woman there at all, but rather was gently giving her his selfless Way of unconditional LOVE (which Jesus frequently referred to symbolically as “water” or “wine”) without any shame or judgment whatsoever. And how remarkable this act was, considering the fact that Jewish oral Law at that time (as important as the written Biblical texts in Jesus’ day) quite clearly forbade all contact between Jews & Samaritans – an edict that is indirectly referenced in John 4:9 & again in Acts 10:28!
Indeed, this scene is oddly reminiscent of a similar one that had been previously mentioned in the Scriptures – Matthew 15:21-26; a scene that had a Canaanite woman being somewhat rudely dismissed by Jesus at a well (in keeping with the Old Testament laws mentioned in Deuteronomy 20:16-17 that indirectly demanded he do the same). Of course, as was so often the case in the Gospels, Jesus – after being inspired by the gentleness of the woman – then softened his tone and discarded those laws in favor of being Kind to her in return.
“You have heard that it was said that ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ And yet I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? … And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? … Be perfect [in Love], therefore, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:43-48)
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