Kori from the “Come On Over Ministry” called Tyler and asked him for his help in rejuvenating a statue in her garden. Tyler loves all things art and loves helping people so this seemed like the perfect project for him. This statue was in our house for a few days before he got started and I walked by her several times. Each time, I would think about her and the impact of her story.
Here she was, a Samaritan woman, a woman that no one liked; rejected even, going to get water in the heat of the day so as not to run into anyone. But she runs into Jesus and her life is forever changed. He asks her for a drink. Imagine! A Jew asking a Samaritan for a drink! He tells her about “The Living Water” and it peaks her curiosity. She could use some of this Living Water. Her heart knows it is what she needs. She asks Him where to get it. He tells her to go get her husband and return to the well. I can see her dip her head and almost in a whisper say “I do not have a husband.” Jesus affirms she does not, in fact, she has had five husbands and lives with a man currently. I can feel the pitter patter of her heart as it speeds up at this truth but also the shock of realizing what this man just said to her. How could he possibly have known that? In two beats of her heart, I imagine that all of the emotions sped through her heart, mind and soul. As she continues speaking with him, she says “I know that the Messiah is coming!” And Jesus says “I am He, the One speaking to you!” She split! She left her jar, left the man and went to town to tell the others what she just experienced. We learn a few verses later that many Samaritans believed in Him because of what she testified that day.
And there it is. When you have a face-to-face encounter with the Savior, you can’t help but be changed. The shame, the guilt, the rejection, and the loss of your past falls to the wayside as you encounter the Holy of Holies. You can’t help but share how your life has been changed by that one encounter of grace, forgiveness and love. In fact, you’ll want to say to others “Come on Over”, let me tell you a story…
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