Emmanuel – God with us (anytime and any place)

When Jesus knew that the Parisees heard He was making and baptizing more disciples that John (though Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went again to Galilee.  He had to travel through Samaria, so He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph.  Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from His journey, sat down at the well.  It was about noon.  A woman of Samaria came to draw water.  “Give Me a drink.”  Jesus said to her, for His disciples had gone into town to buy food.   John 4:1-8

The woman rolled over in bed and felt the empty covers on the other side.  That emptiness only magnified her loneliness.  He had snuck out of her bed and her home before the dawning of the sun, during the early black morning hour.  He didn’t want the village to witness his departure from the home of a woman with her reputation.  She would not give into the tears that fought to come pouring down her face.  She was passed mourning over the path her life had taken.  She was calloused to the rumors that swarmed through the village about her.  She saw the other women cover their mouths as they talked about her when she passed.  She didn’t care any longer.  They were the fools.  They were the ones afraid their husbands would one night end in her bed.  She looked out the window.  By the positioning of the sun, it was now mid-morning.  Time to get ready and walk to Jacob’s Well alone to draw water for bathing and drinking and for any night time guests that may drop in.  She was ostracized in her village, but she no longer cared.  She was use to it.  As she dressed, she felt that lonely ache inside her.  It was a normal feeling for her.  She swallowed hard to push the loneliness away and to muster all her pride as she walked the barren path before her.  It was for her the walk of shame she dreaded everyday.  It was already hot.  The sun was now bearing down straight overhead.  She had no idea of the divine appointment that waited for her at the well.  She didn’t know Immanuel, God with us, was waiting for her at the end of this road.

He was worn out from His journey.  He knew he had been guided here by His Father.  For the time being He knew he must leave the field of jealousy of the Pharisees.  His Father had led him to the land of the despised Samaritans.  There was a reason as He sat down at the well.  His Father was intentional with every path He led Him down.  His life was about to intersect a hurting soul.  He could feel His appointment drawing close.  He just had to watch where the Father was at work and join Him there.  At that moment He saw her approaching, and He knew, and He felt the empty loneliness of a rejected woman.  It was for her that He had sat down to wait for.  He was weary from all the traveling and the intrigue that always surrounded Him.  But it was for people like her that He had left His throne.  It was for the ostracized and dejected that He had taken off His crown and left Heaven and left His Father’s side so that He could show, to the hurting, the Father God who loved them so.  “Give me a drink,” He initiated the contact.

It has always been the Lord’s intent to be with mankind.  From the beginning God met with us.  He walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day.  God told the prophet Isaiah about a coming sign…

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Is 7:14).

God sent His Son to live with us and amongst us.  There has never been nor will there ever be a God like our God.  In fact there is no other God but our God.  Throughout the Old Testament, Israel would fall into idolatry, the worshipping of the false gods of the surrounding nations.  They would prostrate themselves before wooden poles and volcanoes of fire and sacrifice children to these false gods who were not alive, and who couldn’t even move.  Our God, Our One True God is the only living breathing God who actually stooped down and entered our world to show us mercy and grace.

When all devout Jews walked miles out of their way to walk on the other side of the Jordan just to avoid getting the despicable dust of Samaria on their sandals, Jesus walked through the despised country of Samaria to show a woman of ill-repute the great love of Father God.  Jesus shouldn’t have even been talking with this woman.  No other Rabbi would speak to a woman in public much less speak to her of spiritual matters.

Jesus came to take up residence amongst us.  He came to identify with the problems that come from living in this world.  He came to be our Immanuel.  He walked among us just as the Creator God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day.  Just as God waited for them, Jesus sat down to wait on His divine appointment that day at the well.  And He sits and waits to intercept your life to fill you with abundant life.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.  Isaiah 41:10

What does it mean to you that God is with us?  Take a moment and really reflect on all that encompasses.