Third Sabbath in Lent, February 23, 2008. The Gift of God is Jesus at the
Well.
Christ, who suffered weariness as True Man, comes to this woman and to
us to offer Himself as Living Water to quench our thirst for true and
eternal life. You and I can see a reflection of - not just our society, but
ourselves, in this Samaritan woman. We have no right to claim we are God's
chosen people because we are Americans, or white, or moral, or any other
such thing.
The popular spirituality around us today is as woefully inadequate and
false as it was that hot day in Samaria. People are still trying to make
gods in their own image, rather than worship in spirit & truth (1st C).
People try emotional experiences to pump themselves up; or try gurus for
introspective meditation; or they try supernatural events and horrible
horoscopes; they try filling their noggins with knowledge or merely go thru
the motions of worship to 'do their duty to God'; all in vain. Many people
may even go along with the woman and admit Jesus is a prophet (v.19). But
the absolute truth of Christ crucified for all sinners and salvation thru
Him alone is disliked and even banished in most places.
Christ preaches Law to make us aware of our Need. Earthly 'wells'
cannot quench a spiritual thirst. (v.13)
Like this woman, many people (even you) rush in where angels dare not
tread, trying to gratify an inner craving and unquenchable thirst for real
life. Inner spiritual thirst shows up in the rise of addictions to drugs
and in the abusive treatment around us in society, in the people cheapening
God's gift of marriage in adulterous relationships like this woman, and so
many other places. And there is no such thing as a 'private sin' to God,
Who sees all things.
Still people boast they ARE filling their thirst: with money piles and
stock portfolios, successes in technological toys, sports championships
which are tarnished with scandals, political ambitions which serve only
politicians, and possessions that posses us - like buying houses far more
than folks can afford, leading to the whole sub-prime mortgage mess that
seems to be sucking the life out of the American economy and may drag us
into a depression.
Even so, people yearn for more. It is much like the Rhyme of the
Ancient Mariner: spiritual water everywhere without a drop to drink that
will quench the thirst that has been with us since Adam and Eve.
Christ puts His finger on sin as the cause (v.16) This woman appears
to us as beyond reach; not worth the effort. When you 'do missions', you
get that feeling, too. Why spend the money? Why reach out? They're not
OUR kind of people: either by accents, skin colors, or by morals. Those
are evil.
People excuse sins (v.17-18). The woman excused hers; so do you. God
does not. God does not allow anyone to hide or fudge. Quite the opposite.
He shines His bright, holy light on us so no sin can remain hidden. He
doesn't tip the scales of justice.
Any time we take an honest look at our "goodness" we will see that it is
never enough. It is like trying to drain the ocean with an eyedropper.
Even if you could figure out where to put all the water, it could never be
done. Your inner thirst can't be quenched by what you do/feel/think/say.
God's Law must be preached. If it is not, we will remain "in the dark".
Jesus stimulates our desire for God's gift of forgiveness, then shows us
where to find it: in Himself! Christ preaches Gospel to give us Himself as
a Gift. Jesus says we find God's gifts in His true church.
Many are perplexed which "church" that is. (v.20) The woman thought it
could be a place in nature, on a mountain (Gerizim), or she wondered if it
had to be in Jerusalem's Temple. How sad today when folks think that being
alone in any fishing boat or campsite is equivalent to being with fellow
believers in God's House (3rd C). Or that God only accepts worship from oak
pews in stained-glass cathedrals.
While there IS what is labeled an invisible church (which consists of
all believers of all time who confess Christ as Lord and Savior - Luther's
Large Catechism, Third Article, #49-56), Lutheran churches properly teach:
"The (local and visible) Church is the congregation of saints in which the
Gospel is rightly taught and Sacraments are correctly administered."
[Augsburg Confession article VII #1.] "Outside the Christian church, where
the Gospel is not in use, there is no forgiveness." (LLC, AC3 #56). (See
also Luther's Small Catechism, 1st Petition).
We find God's gifts among true worshippers.
God's gifts are not bound to a particular place or ritual (v.20) such as
page 5, Divine Service IV, the number of candles, or in a particular place
like a basement or cathedral.
But God's gifts are given to those united in His Name to receive the
gifts and worship Him is spirit and truth. THAT is the church!
For God is not confined to a building (see Solomon in 2 Chronicles
6:18). Church buildings and congregations can cease to exist (LSB hymn
#645), but true worshippers of God the Father will remain until the total
End of Time (Matthew 10:22, etc.).
True worshippers are those who believe, teach, and confess God the
Father sent His Anointed Son into the world, and the cross of Christ is for
the salvation of the world. "Since we have been justified by faith (in
Christ), we have peace with God." (Epistle, Romans 5). "At the critical
time, Christ came and died for the ungodly:" that is, the Samaritan woman,
the Mexican meatpacker, the Asian woman at Wal-Mart, the Iraqi soldier, me,
YOU and every other person in the universe. The Gift of God is Jesus.
"God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ
died for us." He continues to show His love for us, even though we continue
to NOT fear, love, and trust in Him above all things. He also continues to
turn us away from our sin and draw us to Himself, to gather, enlighten, and
sanctify us (make us holy) by the power of His Word and Sacrament.
To this obscure foreign woman, Jesus reveals Himself point-blank as the
Christ, the Son of God (v.26) Who came to take away the sin of the world.
He IS the Gift that satisfies our deepest spiritual thirst. Thru His
Word, "He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all
believers." 'God's Word is written so we will believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of the Living God, and that believing we may have life
(right now) in His Name.'
As God's gift of faith grows in us, we begin to see that the things
around us are not meant to replace God, or fill an emptiness. Instead, they
are also gifts from God for our enjoyment and the benefit of our neighbors.
We will also have a greater desire to turn away from our own sins, and to
point others (and ourselves) to the Living Water (John 7) and to drink
deeply. Then, as He says, 'the water He gives will be a spring of water
welling up to eternal life!' (v.14-b)
Jesus leads lost souls to salvation. He continues to lead us to
salvation, too. May we be filled with His living water, worship the Father
in Spirit and truth, and live as God's people in the joy of His salvation.
Amen.
Pastor Michael Harman `FW87
St. Peter LCMS - Newell, IA
vacancies at...
First Lutheran - Fonda (Saturday, 5:30PM)
Immanuel - Pomeroy (Sunday, 8:30AM)
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