It's a rainy day. Mary's driving home from a long day of hectic social interaction. Looking out her window she sees the familiar sign glowing through the fog: Starbucks. She walks in, shakes the water off of her coat, and grabs a latte. Finding a cozy seat by the window, she begins to quietly enjoy her beverage. A young woman comes in and sits in the booth next to her. With hardly a glance in her direction, Mary stares at the cars splashing by on the highway.
"We surely needed the rain today, didn't we?" comes from the young woman in the next booth.
"Sure did." Mary quickly responds, hoping this will silence her.
"Do you like rainy days?"
Oh boy. Can't I just watch the rain and drink my coffee in peace?
Mary let's out a little sigh. "In moderation."
All gets quiet again. Yes, finally. Mary takes another sip of her quickly cooling latte. Leaning back in the chair, she tries to relax. Without warning, her heart feels a deep prick. And she knows what this means. The beat in her heart speeds up (and it's not the caffeine). Oh no Lord... do I have to do this right now, with her? Can't I just enjoy the rain. I'm tired. You've seen how busy my day was. Can't you use someone else? I'm no good at this anyway...
The prodding doesn't stop. Mary's heart wrestles within her. Her palms get sweaty. As her mind leans toward obeying God's calling, she almost panics. What do I say? How do I begin? What if I say something wrong? How will she respond? How do I do this?!
How do I do this?
Witnessing is looked upon widely as a seemingly confusing and stressful task for the Christian. Every person is different, with different backgrounds and fears, different ways of understanding and communicating. How do we go about sharing the most important news in the world with someone we have never met or don't understand? Jesus shows us how.
While reading in John 4 a few days ago, God began showing me some basic, helpful guidelines for witnessing that Jesus used while talking to the woman from Samaria.
Jesus talked with the outcasts. (4:9)
We shouldn't avoid those we don't understand or who our culture ignores. Jesus opened a conversation with 1) and Samaritan, and 2) a woman. Both of these qualities where despised among the Jews. But Jesus didn't let that stop Him from sharing the truth. Everyone needs the gospel, especially the outcasts.
Jesus used earthly instruments to explain heavenly precepts. (4:13)
The well of water was an excellent tool for explaining the gospel to this thirsty woman. We also can use physical objects around us to help illustrate the spiritual truths of Christ. Everything can be used to point to Christ.
Jesus was patient with her ignorance. (4:15, 16)
After Jesus presents a simply beautiful illustration about the Living Water, which Christians completely understand, the Samaritan woman responds by asking, "Give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water." (4:15) She kinda missed the point. The water Jesus was offering wasn't physical water, but eternal spiritual water. But it didn't discourage Him. He just went deeper.
Jesus cut straight to the heart. (4:16)
Picking up on the signs about her lifestyle, (and being God, He knew all things) He asked her a question which would reveal what she lived to hide. A few years ago, I read something by John Piper that I will never forget, "The quickest way to the heart is through a wound." Jesus uses this knowledge to strip away the crust of lies and lay bare the inner self. This is a valuable tool for witnessing. Every person has wounds of the heart. If we can lovingly and honestly uncover these hurts, we can offer the healing balm of the gospel to fill the holes of pain caused by sin.
Jesus gets to the heart, then reveals Himself. (4:26)
After much dialogue and discussion with this woman, He gets to her heart and then reveals Himself. If He would have simply walked up to her in the beginning and declared, "I am the Messiah!", I don't think she would have listened to Him. In the same way, we cannot approach strangers and announce that they need Jesus without getting to their heart, showing them their heart, and then offering the remedy for their heart.
Jesus answered her questions with the truth. (4:20, 22)
This lady obviously had real questions about religion and worship. And Jesus let her talk and ask questions. I noticed though in every answer, Jesus held out an invitation for her to step into. Our answers to people's questions should always offer hope and truth, with an open invitation to join and change.
Jesus creates a worshipper. (4:23)
Out of an obviously carnal woman, in whom I would have probably regarded as beyond hopeless, Christ transformed her into a true worshipper that would bear witness to her entire town. She wasn't just a number to Him. He wanted and created a worshipper.
What about when I don't feel like witnessing to people? Look to Jesus. In the verses leading up to this passage, it says, "So Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well." (4:6) Jesus was weary. He was tired from a long journey. But He was faithful in His compassion. Everyone needs Him, and to everyone (even in His weariness) He made Himself available. What an example...
All this considered, we must again come to the realization that it is not us making a Christian, it is Christ at work. Take the burden off of your shoulders and rest in the power of the gospel.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." Romans 1:16
The gospel is what holds the power. Not us.
We are just the witnesses who sit by the wells of life offering the Water for life.
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