Jesus and the Samaritan Woman 

Jeff Stilwell is a guest writer on Anne's Homey Place.  He grew up in Peru, South America, as a missionary child.  His parents are still there as missionaries.  Two of his brothers and their families have also returned as missionaries.

Some times we don't see the need because we look too hard. The need is a simple one and it is all around us. The need is that people are dying without Christ and going to a Christ-less eternity. You don't have to look far. The lost are all around us. But Christ did not pound the gospel down their throats. He first addressed their physical needs and used that as an avenue to satisfy their spiritual needs. After Christ had walked quit a ways, weary and thirsty, He sat down at a well and asked the first Samaritan woman to come to Him for a drink of water.  Christ was thirsty because of His long journey, but we all thirst. Christ first acted to satisfy a persons physical needs. All through the gospels you find Christ healing the sick and yet many times not addressing their spiritual needs. I believe that this is a very important issue to address here. How can we say we love people if we let them go hungry? How can we say we care about people if we don't help them with their physical needs? If someone comes to use in need of food, shelter, financial need, or need of transportation, do we tell them to go in peace and that God will take care of them when we have the means to meat their needs right then and there? No, you first meet their physical need and when you have gained their trust and confidence, then they are more apt to see their spiritual need and open up their hearts to the word of God. 

September 11 will not be forgotten anytime soon in America. People are hurting with a lost one or a lost friend or simply the calamity of it all are hurting and searching for answers. Many hearts are tender to the word of God. Many have physical needs. Those whose physical needs are being meet will go and thank, praise, and trust in those who helped meet their need. Have we as Christians helped them? Will they come to us because we have meet their need and searching for answers to their questions? When Christ drew the Samaritan woman's attention from the physical water to the spiritual water, her heart was open and receptive to what Christ had to say. Many people in times of trouble are the most open to the word of God and sensitive to their spiritual needs. As bad as this Samaritan woman was, Christ did not pound on her for her sins but instead offered her everlasting life. 

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