Phil Meade – NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper: Be a Humble Servant

Phil Meade on May 9, 2025

“When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses”

Exodus 14:31 (ESV)

BE A HUMBLE SERVANT

The Israelites are safely on dry land, and the Egyptians lie dead on the shore. The story concludes with:

“When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses” (Ex. 14:31, NLT).

God heard their cries, and they were redeemed. Their faith in the Lord—and in Moses—was restored. Unfortunately, this faith did not last. Because of their sins, the current generation (including Moses) would not live to inhabit the Promised Land.

The phrases “fear the Lord,” “fear God,” and “stand in awe” occur more than fifty times in the Bible (ESV). We, who are His creation, should have a healthy fear of the One who is all-powerful and who spoke the world into existence. Oftentimes, the word “fear” in the Bible is rendered as “awe” or “reverence.” God should be held in awe, and we should be humbled by the chasm that exists between the God of the universe and our helpless selves. Fortunately, as we saw in Part 1 of this series, God provided a way to bridge that chasm through the person of Jesus Christ.

We should be in reverent fear and awe of our powerful God. In love and obedience, we should humbly serve Him. As the writer of Proverbs notes:

“The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor” (Prov. 15:33).

Jesus came in the flesh not only to provide a way to salvation and give us a glimpse of the character of God, but also to give us an example of a humble servant. As the apostle Mark wrote:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Webster’s Dictionary defines humble as:

not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive;
a spirit of deference or submission;
ranking low in a hierarchy or scale.

Do you know someone who thinks they are the humblest person they know? (For those of you who know me—no pointing fingers in my direction!) Humility is advanced Christianity. Humble servitude is post-graduate-level stuff. Paul reminds the church in Philippi:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3–4).

Moses is described in the Bible as a “humble” man, a great “prophet,” a “man of God,” and a “friend of God,” who spoke “face to face” with God.

Let the lessons from the life of Moses be:

God will equip you for the task He has at hand;
When God calls, do not waver;
Trust in God—He will provide a way;
Get off the bench and get in the game;
Humbly serve in the role that God has placed you in.

Digging Deeper (er):

John 4:34; 1 Samuel 12:24; Deuteronomy 10:12

Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

Digging Deeper: Get Up and Go

Phil Meade on May 8, 2025

“Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward”

Exodus 14:15 (ESV)

GET UP AND GO

The Israelites are surrounded on both sides. Going backward means slavery. Going forward means drowning—unless a miracle happens. They cry out to Moses to rescue them, and Moses assures them that God will fight for them (Ex. 14:14). God hears the cries of the people and asks Moses,

“Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward” (Ex. 14:15).

God is telling His people to trust in Him—and get up and go! The writer of Hebrews notes,

“By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27).

By faith in the “invisible,” Moses gathered the people and left, trusting God to provide a path.

Our faith in God must be active, and trusting Him should result in taking that first step. Faith believes that God is who He says He is. Trust believes that God acts in the ways He promises. You cannot have one without the other. James wrote, referring to Abraham,

“You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works” (Jas. 2:22).

Abraham knew enough about God to trust Him—even to the point of sacrificing his son and heir. Daniel reminds us,

“The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action” (Dan. 11:32b).

The book of James, though relatively short, contains some very powerful messages. My favorite part is the final section of chapter 2, titled “Faith Without Works Is Dead” (Jas. 2:14–26). James notes that faith without works is a “dead faith” (v. 17). When someone asks us about our faith, most of us can find the words to explain why we believe what we believe. However, James takes it a step further, stating,

“Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (v. 18b).

In other words, what good is faith if no action is taken on its behalf?

We all know the ending of the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. God protected them until they were safely on the opposite shore. Then He caused the waters to return, drowning their Egyptian pursuers (Ex. 14:21–29). The people trusted God to save them, and their trust was rewarded by a faithful God.

One final question: What is holding you back from moving forward?

I still remember a scene from the final film in the original Indiana Jones saga. Indy must cross a bottomless abyss with no visible bridge to provide a path. He takes a step of faith into the void—and discovers an invisible stone bridge spanning the chasm. Think about the times when God has been faithful to you during your own seasons of indecision. The trust built during those countless encounters should give you the confidence to take that next step of faith—whatever area of life is causing you to waver.

Digging Deeper (er):

Proverbs 16:3; Proverbs 21:5; 1 John 3:18

Digging Deeper: Trust in the Lord

Phil Meade on May 7, 2025

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord”

Exodus 14:13a (ESV)

TRUST IN THE LORD

As we saw yesterday, the Israelites were frozen on the shores of the Red Sea. They did not trust Moses—and by proxy, God—and they wavered in their decision to enter the waters. We’ll leave that part of the story for a moment and step back to their days of captivity in Egypt.

Moses delivers God’s message to Pharaoh, but things have not gone as he expected. Moses addresses the Lord, saying,

“O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all” (Ex. 5:22b–23).

The people are still suffering at the hands of their Egyptian masters. The king of Egypt refuses to let them go—but he is about to learn a very tough lesson. God reassures Moses that He is in control. He tells him,

“Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country” (Ex. 6:1, NIV).

Ten plagues later, the people are freed from their bondage.

We now return to the edge of the Red Sea. Moses answers the people’s indecision with,

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.
For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Ex. 14:13b–14).

The deep waters of the Red Sea lie ahead, and the entire Egyptian army lies behind. And Moses instructs the people to “only be silent.” The Psalter reminds us that God is our “refuge and strength.” Though the seas may “roar and foam,” the “Lord of hosts is with us.”

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46).

I don’t know about you, but I struggle with the whole “be still and be silent” dynamic. I’m analytical, a problem-solver. Trusting in the abilities of others is sometimes a challenge for me. With God, however, it all comes down to trust. Before we can act, we must believe that God is trustworthy. As the writer of Proverbs notes,

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov. 3:5–6).

For the Israelites, their “straight path” to safety and freedom could only be traversed by putting their faith and trust in God. He alone had the power to separate the waters of the Red Sea.

It ultimately comes down to obedient faith. Obedient faith leads to action, which builds trust, which results in stronger faith and unwavering obedience—and the cycle continues. Ask yourself: Who do you trust when you’re facing obstacles on all sides? Are you “leaning on your own understanding,” or will you

“Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Ps. 34:8)?

Take heart—God is more than worthy of your trust. As we will discuss tomorrow, trusting in the Lord will get you “off the fence” and moving along the path He provides.

Digging Deeper (er):

Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 112:7; Psalm 143:8

Digging Deeper: Stop Wavering, Decide

Phil Meade on May 6, 2025

^12 “Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness”

Exodus 14:12 (ESV)

STOP WAVERING, DECIDE

We all have those moments in life when we must decide on a course of action. It may be a job change, a change of residence, a change in a relationship, or one of a myriad of other large (and not-so-large) decisions. William James, often called the father of American psychology, noted, “There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision.”

Are you a habitual “fence-sitter”? In my much younger days, I was an instructor pilot in the T-38—a high-speed Air Force trainer. When you’re moving at speeds approaching the speed of sound, making a quick and correct decision is vital. My best students were the ones who made timely decisions. Quite often, they made the wrong decision—that’s what I got paid to do: keep us safe and alive—but I was never upset with the decision they made. With time and experience, they learned how to make the right ones. The students who struggled most were the ones who froze. They were so afraid of making the wrong decision that they made no decision at all—not ideal when you’re doing 600 MPH. They wavered.

We pick up the story of the Israelites’ flight from Egypt in Exodus chapter 14. Moses is leading the people as they approach the shore of the Red Sea. The Egyptian army is closing fast on their heels, and the people cry to Moses:

“Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?
Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’?
For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness” (Ex. 14:11–12).

The people begin to waver, paralyzed by fear of the approaching army. They long for their days in captivity. Unable to decide to trust in the Lord and move forward, they contemplate making a terrible decision—to return to their former life of slavery.

Scripture is replete with the contrast between freedom and slavery. We are called to give up the yoke of slavery that sin entangles us with and to rest in the freedom that Jesus gave His life for (Eph. 5:1). As Peter notes, “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (1 Pet. 2:16). Paul reminds the church in Rome, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2).

What situation in your life is on hold because you cannot decide? Are you afraid of making the wrong decision? Welcome to the human race. But I challenge you—like my former students—to recognize that indecision is, itself, a wrong decision. I am not suggesting making a hasty decision just for the sake of acting. But if your current situation is untenable, choose freedom over slavery. Take it to God. Our faith is an active faith. God will show you the pathway, but you must decide to take the first step. Then stand in awe as God parts the troubled waters you’re in and leads you to the Promised Land!

Digging Deeper (er):

Psalm 118:5; Isaiah 30:21; Deuteronomy 30:19

Digging Deeper: God Will Equip, God Will Send

Phil Meade on May 5, 2025

²⁰Now may the God of peace . . .²¹equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight

Hebrews 13:20a, 21a (ESV)

GOD WILL EQUIP, GOD WILL SEND

In part one of the “Greatest Hits” series, Mike noted that the serpent twisted the words of God to implant doubt in the mind of Eve (Gen. 3:1–5). She began to doubt the word of God and acted out of her own self-interest. The fall from grace was the result, and humanity was forever tainted with the burden of sin.

Fast forward a few millennia to the arrival of Moses. Moses was a simple shepherd for his father-in-law when God called him—from a burning bush—to lead His people out of bondage and into the Promised Land (Ex. 3:7–9). God said, “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt” (Ex. 3:10, ESV). Did our future hero jump at the chance? You be the judge:

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Ex. 3:11).

Moses is no different from the rest of us. When God called him to this monumental task, his first thought was to doubt his qualifications for the job. Yet God would not be deterred—He is God, after all! God replies, “But I will be with you” (Ex. 3:12). One would think that if God promises to be with you, what argument can be made against Him? Moses, however, is not yet convinced.

As Exodus chapter 3 concludes, God explains to Moses who He is (“I AM WHO I AM”) and instructs him on what to say to the elders of the people and to Pharaoh. Moses, however, is not so anxious to “put his yes on the table.” He answers God, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’” (Ex. 4:1). God, as always, has an answer. He gives Moses two signs and tells him, “If they will not believe you . . . or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign” (Ex. 4:8).

Moses is still not convinced he is the man for the job. He tries a different argument, stating, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue” (Ex. 4:10). God once again deflects Moses’ argument, replying, “Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak” (Ex. 4:12).

Finally, Moses runs out of arguments. He simply pleads, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else” (Ex. 4:13). God has heard enough, and He is angry. He asks Moses, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well… You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do” (Ex. 4:14a, 15).

The writer of Hebrews reminds his audience that God will “equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight” (Heb. 13:21a). Paul tells the church at Ephesus, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10, NIV).

When God calls you to work for His kingdom, do not doubt. Your first thought may be, “I am not worthy enough or talented enough”—and you would be correct. Fortunately for us (and for those we encounter), God is all that is required. He has promised to equip you. Put your “yes on the table,” and go!

Digging Deeper (er):

2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:13; Joshua 1:9

Digging Deeper: Tell Your Story

Phil Meade on February 28, 2025

²⁸So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ²⁹“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” ³⁰They went out of the town and were coming to him . . . ³⁹Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” ⁴⁰So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. ⁴¹And many more believed because of his word. ⁴²They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John 4:28-30, 39-42 (ESV)

TELL YOUR STORY

As the disciples return from their grocery shopping, the woman heads back to town, leaving her water jar behind (v. 28). I find this an interesting dichotomy. On one hand, she may have wished to lighten her load so she could quickly return to share the good news. On the other hand, if I were in her position—with what I assume was a not-so-stellar reputation around town—I wouldn’t be in a hurry to engage in conversation with the locals. Fortunately, I am not God, and Jesus had a precise plan already in motion.

The Samaritan woman and Mary Magdalene (Matt. 28:7-8) have two things in common: both heard the good news about Jesus and quickly shared it with others. And although they were believed initially (which was unusual in their culture), those who heard them still had to see and hear for themselves (v. 39, 42; Lk. 24:10-12). No matter who plants the seed, God is the source, and His will is always done.

How did this Samaritan woman of questionable morals become such an influential messenger of the good news? She simply told her story. She met a man at a well who told her, “all I ever did” (v. 29, 39). She knew the Messiah had been promised long ago, and her heart was open to the possibility that this man was who He claimed to be. All her past sins and failures—though still a factual record—no longer defined her. Jesus defined her!

Barclay’s Study Bible notes:
“This very desire to tell others of her discovery killed in this woman the feeling of shame. She was no doubt an outcast; she was no doubt a byword; the very fact that she was drawing water from this distant well shows how she avoided her neighbors and how they avoided her. But now she ran to tell them of her discovery. A person may have some trouble which he is embarrassed to mention and which he tries to keep secret, but once he is cured, he is often so filled with wonder and gratitude that he tells everyone about it.”

Do you wish to quench your burning thirst? Seek the One who provides eternal living water. Do you know someone who is thirsty? Tell them about the Man you met—the One who knew all your faults, yet loved you still. Only He can satisfy a thirsty world.

Diggin Deeper (er):

Psalm 34:4-5; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 3:15

Phil Meade is a father of three, and grandfather of five. He has a Masters in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NorthStar Church. He recently retired after 33 years as a pilot for Delta Airlines.

Digging Deeper: Admit that You are Thirsty

Phil Meade on February 27, 2025

¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” ¹⁷The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband;’ ¹⁸for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true” . . . ²⁵The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” ²⁶Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

John 4:16-18, 25-26 (ESV)

ADMIT THAT YOU ARE THIRSTY

Most scholars believe that John’s account of this story is abridged; the entire conversation with Jesus is not included. The omitted parts likely contained more details about the woman’s past, providing Jesus with more of her story (this does not discount His divine ability to discern the contents of a person’s heart).

Jesus has just flipped the script. It would have been customary for a man engaged in private conversation with a woman to ask that her husband join them (v. 16). I am sure the woman had heard this request numerous times while she was unmarried, and her reaction was likely the same each time. The apostle John does not describe her facial expression, body language, or tone of voice, but we can infer from her terse four-word response that it was not a positive reaction. Guilt and shame were probably among the strongest emotions she felt. She did not join the other women of the town to draw water in the morning—there had to be a reason.

I have been divorced for over 25 years and have led numerous divorce recovery groups during my time at NorthStar. Scripture does not specifically state that divorce was the reason for the dissolution of all five of the woman’s marriages (v. 18), but it is safe to assume that at least some of her husbands did not die. One nearly universal experience among newly divorced individuals is the overwhelming sense of guilt and shame. While I encourage them to honestly look in the mirror and reflect on their role in the divorce (no matter how small it may seem) as a step toward healing, I also remind them that guilt and shame do not come from above but from the evil forces at work in this world.

All of us experience brokenness at times. We search for healing and thirst for something that truly satisfies. For Christ to quench that thirst and heal our brokenness, we must be honest with ourselves (v. 17) and, more importantly, with our Creator (confession = repentance = forgiveness = healing). “That Christ seeks all people, despite our former sins or our current circumstances, and wants to make us sincere disciples, is the great message of His conversation at the well” (bibleref.com).

One final point: This is the first recorded instance in Scripture where Jesus reveals His identity (v. 26). That He chooses to reveal Himself to a Samaritan woman of questionable character tells us everything we need to know about what our gracious Lord and Savior can do in our lives!

Diggin Deeper (er):

Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 147:3; 1 John 1:9.

Digging Deeper: Jesus is the Spring of Living Water

Phil Meade on February 26, 2025

¹³Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ¹⁵The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

John 4:13-15 (ESV)

JESUS IS THE SPRING OF LIVING WATER

I want you to think of a time when your mouth was dry, your throat parched, and you felt like you would die without something to drink. Maybe you were mowing the lawn, exercising, or simply outside on a hot, sweltering Georgia summer day (just typing this is making me thirsty!). Now, think of the one beverage that would truly quench that thirst. It might be as simple as water (probably the best choice), or it might be something different (I believe someone in the audience just said ‘Diet Coke’). Whatever your beverage of choice is, ask yourself: How long did it satisfy my thirst? How soon until I was thirsty again? (v. 13).

The woman at the well came for water, likely to carry it back to her household—a task she had performed countless times. However, this visit to the well would be different. Marcus Dods comments, “The water of Jacob’s well had two defects: it quenched thirst only for a time, and it lay outside the town a weary distance . . . Christ offers water which will quench thirst lastingly, and which will be ‘in’ the person drinking.”

Yesterday, we saw how the woman initially misunderstood Jesus, thinking He was offering her water from the ground. He explained that what He was offering did not come from a well or a spring but from His Father. The water He offered would eternally quench her thirst and become a spring within her (v. 14). Jesus was offering her a gift she did not deserve and could not earn. This, by definition, is grace.

Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8). Christ lovingly and graciously offers us access to this living water through His indwelling Holy Spirit. This spring will never run dry and will be our source of refreshment on life’s dry, dusty days. Nothing else can satisfy. Everything else eventually dries up or turns bitter.

As we saw yesterday, the woman’s response to Jesus’ offer of living water showed that she was still thinking in literal terms (v. 15). But Jesus was offering her so much more. Now, as the story continues, He puts her to the test. Their back-and-forth verbal sparring over literal versus figurative water is over.

All of us, at one time or another, have been challenged to decide. The Samaritan woman’s time is now. The next few moments in this encounter will determine her eternal destiny.

Diggin Deeper (er):

John 7:37-39; Hebrews 4:16; Revelation 21:6.

Digging Deeper: A Thirst Only Jesus Can Satisfy

Phil Meade on February 25, 2025

⁷A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” ⁸(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) ⁹The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) ¹⁰Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” ¹¹The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? ¹²Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” . . . ¹⁵The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

John 4:7-12, 15 (ESV)

A THIRST ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY

A woman comes to a well to draw water, unaware that her life is about to change. Jesus, as He often does, breaks from the cultural norms of the day. He—a Rabbi—initiates a conversation in public with a woman (v. 7), something a self-respecting Jewish Rabbi would never do. I am sure the woman was taken aback at first, but her response to Jesus signifies her willingness to engage with this stranger. She knows the long history of disdain that Jews have for her people; nevertheless, she continues the conversation. She senses that the man speaking to her is no ordinary Jewish Rabbi.

Quite often, those who encountered Jesus interpreted His words through a temporal lens, while Jesus was speaking of the eternal. When the woman asks why Jesus would request a drink from her (v. 9), He redirects the conversation, beginning to open her eyes to who He is and what He has to offer (v. 10). However, she continues to misunderstand His meaning. She can only conceive of physical water, and her questions reflect that confusion. She notes that Jesus has no bucket with which to draw water and reminds Him that this well is special, built by Jacob. She knows of no other source of this living water (v. 12–13). Even after Jesus explains the true meaning of the living water He offers, she remains confused. She asks for the water, not as a pathway to eternity, but as a means to quench her thirst and relieve her from the daily burden of drawing water from the well.

Barclay’s Study Bible notes, “In every man there is this nameless unsatisfied longing; this vague discontent; this something lacking; this frustration.” The woman’s response is not unlike our own when we are thirsty—when things are not going our way, and we seek relief. We long for an ice-cold glass of water to soothe our parched throats, yet Jesus offers the only water that will truly satisfy. Even though the woman at the well is initially focused on her physical thirst, I believe her continued questioning reveals a deeper, spiritual thirst longing to be quenched. As we will see, Jesus is just beginning to transform her life.

Diggin Deeper (er):

Matthew 5:6; John 6:35; Revelation 7:16-17.

Digging Deeper: Living Sent, with a Purpose

Phil Meade on February 24, 2025

³he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. ⁴And he had to pass through Samaria. ⁵So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ⁶Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. ⁷A woman from Samaria came to draw water.

John 4:3-7a (ESV)

LIVING SENT, WITH A PURPOSE

Thus begins one of my favorite “Jesus encounters” in the Bible. As we continue in The Changemaker series, we see Jesus traveling to a specific place (living sent) to meet a specific person (with a purpose). Please indulge me for a few sentences as I set the stage for this Jesus encounter.

After the death of Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was divided into two kingdoms: the southern kingdom of Judah, founded by the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (with Jerusalem as its capital), and the northern kingdom of Israel, founded by the remaining ten tribes (with Samaria as its capital). In the late 8th century BC, the Assyrians captured the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 17:6). Many upper-class Israelites were exiled to Assyria, while foreigners were brought in to settle among the remaining lower-class Israelites (2 Kings 17:24). Centuries of intermarriage created a mixed race—the Samaritans—who existed at the time of our story. Deep religious differences led to hostility between the Samaritans and the Jews.

The most direct route from Jerusalem, in the region of Judea, to Galilee (where Jesus spent much of His ministry) passed through Samaria. Most religious Jews took a longer, more arduous path, crossing the Jordan River twice to avoid Samaria altogether, doubling their travel time. However, Scripture notes that Jesus “had to pass through Samaria” on His way to Galilee (John 4:4). He had a purpose.

As our story begins, Jesus stops at Jacob’s well near the town of Sychar, located between the city of Samaria and Mount Gerizim. This was not a random rest stop on the highway; it was intentional and purposeful. Jesus was seeking someone who needed Him—someone who likely did not even realize they were lost (Luke 19:10). The Samaritan woman is about to meet a Changemaker who will not only transform her life but also impact countless others.

We, too, are called to be changemakers in the lives of others. Just before His final ascension into heaven, Jesus reminds His followers: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8b). I find it significant that Samaria is specifically mentioned. Jesus is reminding us that no one is unworthy of His grace and mercy. I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes and touch your heart to see your own “Samaritan.”

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news” (Romans 10:15b, cf. Isaiah 52:7).

Diggin Deeper (er):

2 Kings 17; Luke 19:10; Rom 10:13-15.