17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” ~ John 4:17-20
I think it’s safe to say that this was an uncomfortable conversation. Not only did Jesus tell the woman of her past sins and that she was still living in sin, but Jesus even went as far as to tell her that she doesn’t even know who she is worshipping because she is not a Jew. Jesus didn’t avoid these kinds of hard conversations because He understood that people would die in their sin without hard conversations. He was prepared for any response that the woman could have responded with because He loved her. His love for her gave Him the patience He needed to have the hard conversations.
We need this kind of love today. Not every conversation we have will be easy. Some will be hard. Some will have people becoming angry. Some will have people becoming all kinds of emotional, but without these conversations, how can they be saved? Jesus was crucified because of what He said and did, but yet He cried out on their behalf. Stephen was stoned to death. Paul was kicked out of several towns, beaten several times, and left for dead. The disciples were crucified. So many have died and are willing to die for the Word of God, for Truth, but in a free country, we are afraid to offend or upset someone. We are afraid of uncomfortable conversations.
Why? I believe it’s the lack of love. We’d rather allow someone to stay in their sin, ignorance, or lack of faith because we don’t want to be uncomfortable. If we only understand a tenth of the punishment they would face, we would have any conversation necessary to save their soul from destruction. We would humble ourselves and look at them with love. We would have mercy and speak life to them. Look at how Jesus finished His hard conversation.
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
John 4:21-26
He ended it with hope. He didn’t just say you’re a sinner. He didn’t just say, well, you’re not even a Jew. No, He left the woman with hope. The hope of the Messiah who would break down all barriers. The hope that no matter the past, the Messiah is the future. Who is it that you’re avoiding your hard conversation with? Don’t avoid it any longer. Don’t wait any longer, for tomorrow is promised to no man. Give them a chance to repent and find Christ Jesus.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Have Hard Conversations.
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