The Teachings of Jesus: Significant Encounters
Jesus taught by example, too. In these three Bible stories, he has a significant encounter with someone who would have been considered unworthy by the people of that time.
(1) The Samaritan Woman at the Well. The Gospel of John recites the longest conversation anyone had with Jesus in the Bible. It is mid-day, and Jesus is resting alone at a well while his Apostles had gone to buy food. A Samaritan woman approaches to draw water, and we know immediately that she is an outcast among her own people, since she is alone at the well at midday—the women of the village would all come together to draw water in the morning, before it got hot.
Jesus asks her to give him a drink, and she is astonished for two reasons: first, that a man would speak to a woman, and second, that a Jew would speak to a Samaritan. She voices her surprise, and he tells her that if she knew who she was speaking with, she would be the one asking him for living water. She is understandably confused by this reference—noting that he doesn’t even have a bucket—and in the ensuing conversation it almost seems as though he is gently teasing her. He then reveals that he is aware she has had five husbands, and is currently living with a man not her husband.
Astonished yet again, she declares that he must be a prophet, but Jesus reveals that instead, he is the Messiah. It is important to understand that—at this point—he hasn’t told even the Apostles that he is the Messiah.
From our present-day perspective, it is hard to imagine just how shocking this encounter was. Indeed, the gospel tells us that when the Apostles returned, they were “amazed that he was talking to a woman.” For her part, she left to go boldly into her village and ask everyone to come and listen to Jesus. The Gospel then tells us that the Samaritan village invited him to stay with them for two days. (John 4:4-42)
(2) The Woman Caught in Adultery. The Jewish religious leaders had become hostile to Jesus, since he was attracting a large number of followers while preaching a radical ministry. Therefore, they tried to discredit him in public and saw just such a chance with a woman caught in adultery.
The scribes and Pharisees brought the woman before Jesus, asserting that she must be stoned to death according to Mosaic Law. If he agreed, it would publicly contradict his ministry of forgiveness and mercy, but if he disagreed, they could bring a charge against him for disobeying the law. But Jesus only replied, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." One by one, her accusers left. Jesus then asked the woman, “Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” He told her, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:1-11)
(3) Zacchaeus the Tax Collector. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector in Jericho, and tax collectors were thoroughly hated because they became wealthy by taking money from their fellow Jews to hand over to the equally-hated Romans.
We are told that—because Zaccheus was short—he climbed a sycamore tree to see over the crowds as Jesus passed by. When Jesus reached the tree, he called out, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”
As could be imagined, this shocked the crowd, who were unhappy that Jesus would consort with such a sinner. In response, Zacchaeus immediately pledged to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay fourfold anyone he had cheated. (Luke 19:1-10).
Fun fact: When asked about these questionable encounters, Jesus replied, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:16)
Next time: Forgiveness and The Golden Rule
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