Freedom from Shame
“‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?’” -John 4:29
I recently started a new Bible study that encouraged me to write out a “mind map” of my thoughts during the course of a day. After some reflection, I was surprised to discover what was at the root:
Shame.
It was the common thread in the tangle of unhealthy thoughts I have been wrestling with for a while now. Not only was it driving my perfectionism and some of my self-inflicted problems, but I was beginning to see just how much I had rearranged my life to avoid this one emotion. As I prayed over this new revelation, I was reminded of another woman in the Bible who struggled similarly.
The Samaritan woman in John 4 was also living a life of shame and isolation when Jesus met her at the well at noon (v. 6). While most women would draw water early in the morning to beat the heat, we have to wonder why this woman was there in the middle of the day. Perhaps she was an outcast in her village. Or maybe she was just trying to avoid people’s scrutiny and judgment. But I love that Jesus decided to meet her there, and her life was forever changed. In the same way, Jesus is ready to meet us where we are and offers us the same life-changing experience.
Jesus Wants to Get to the Source
Jesus offers the woman “living water,” saying, “‘But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life’” (v. 14). When she responds to His invitation, it’s clear she’s only thinking about the short-term; she’s only interested in this water because she doesn’t want to come to the well and be reminded of her shame (v. 15). However, Jesus is talking about the eternal — satisfying the longing of her soul and being the answer to her brokenness and pain.
Jesus Wants Our Honesty
Eventually, we find out the source of the woman’s shame. When she admits that she doesn’t have a husband, Jesus says, “‘You’re right! You don’t have a husband — for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!’” (v. 18). When she tries to change the subject, Jesus continues to emphasize the importance of worshiping God “in spirit and in truth” (v. 23). It’s only when Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah that she finally understands who He is, experiencing freedom when she is honest with herself and the One who knows her completely (v. 25-26).
Jesus Wants Us to Tell Our Story
In her excitement, John says the woman “left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?’” (v. 28-29). The woman who was avoiding her people was now telling them about Jesus. And her testimony wasn’t complicated; it was an invitation to meet the One who knew all of her — all her sin and shame — and still accepted her. In fact, her testimony was so effective in drawing people to Jesus that they would later tell her, “‘Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world’” (v. 42).
When we experience freedom from our sins, we can be bold like the Samaritan woman and point others to Christ so they can experience Him for themselves. And our testimony can be a simple one like hers: “Come and see!”
Daneem Kim serves as a youth leader at Maine Street Baptist Church in Brunswick, Maine.
