Experiencing Jesus’ unfailing love, his immeasurable grace and mercy. How could you possibly keep it to yourself? You feel like running around! Telling everyone you meet about Jesus. The one who saved your soul and freed you from your sin! Right?
We are called to live a life actively telling people about the immense difference it makes to our hearts and lives to know and love Jesus. That following him radically changes everything. But, we don’t.
Why?
Shame is a Cruel Master
For me it’s shame. I’m aware of all the ways I’ve rejected and dishonoured God. I would run away from opportunities to share the gospel. I can clearly remember being offered an amazing opportunity to present a children’s talk during the main Christmas service one year. My first thought was: “No way. This is a church where people know the shameful life you once lived. How could you possibly stand up and tell them about Jesus?” So I forgot that moment when I first experienced his grace, the joy and freedom I had. Shame can be a significant obstacle to enjoying Jesus and telling others about him.
Shame can be an obstacle to enjoying Jesus and telling others about him.
It stops us from approaching others. Not just because, like me, maybe they knew you before. But also because sometimes telling someone how Jesus saved us means having to expose the fact that we lived a shameful life. How we embraced our sin rather than repenting of it.
So we quietly love Jesus at the back of the church. Because we fear that someone will find out who we used to be and possibly reject us. I feel that fear when everyone is talking about how they used to live life without Jesus but all they did was not attend church. And there I am, knowing that was the least of what I did before I knew Jesus. If they knew, how would they treat me?
When Jesus Met a Woman Burdened by Shame
Thankfully, Jesus in his grace has shown us how he handles those who carry such shame. There are countless stories in scripture of people being brought out into the light, for God’s glory. Crowned with the righteousness of Christ! And Jesus shows us our response of joy and freedom, rather than shame and fear, will impact those around us. The Samaritan woman shows us this in her response.
Jesus is traveling through Samaria (John 4:4). Resting by a well, he meets a woman coming out in the middle of the day to collect water (John 4:7). This is the first indication that she has something causing her to avoid other women. For she was collecting water during the hottest time of the day. Jesus asks for a drink of water, but she questions him (John 4:7-9). However, Jesus simply flips things around, offering her something instead: living water (John 4:10). She doesn’t think much of it at first, saying Jesus doesn’t even have a bucket to draw water with (John 4:11).
In his grace Jesus shows us how he handles those who carry shame.
But as he continues, Jesus tells this woman that he knows who she is (John 4:16-18). He knows what she has done. He’s aware of the shame that keeps her separated, not just from her community but from her God.
Continuing the conversation Jesus explains what is to come (John 4:21-24). Then the most beautiful thing happens. Jesus admits to his title of “the Christ” (John 4:26). The Samaritan woman believes.
God’s Grace can Overwhelm Our Guilt
And what of her response?
Well, she is no longer overwhelmed by her shame.
The Samaritan women chose to embrace joy rather than shame.
She doesn’t let shame cripple her from acting on that overwhelming feeling of joy and freedom in her heart. She had discovered something radically life changing. So she runs back to the town, to the very same people she had been avoiding. She sprints towards those who shamed her, who made her an outcast (John 4:28-29). It was to these very same people that she ran to tell of Jesus, who had just graciously revealed himself. And because she chose to embrace joy rather than shame, it resulted in the people of her town believing as well (John 4:39).
Stop Holding onto Shame Jesus has already Forgiven
Relateable? I think so. We need not look further than our own lives and past to confront the shame of sin. We all have a past (and possibly present) that we aren’t proud of. Because, when Jesus found each and every one of us, he didn’t find us already on our knees in worship to him. He found us sneaking out in the middle of the day, in the heat of shame and fear. He finds us searching for water, doing what we can to avoid everyone who would expose our sin and possibly reject us, including God.
God uses the weak to show he is strong.
Too often shame has stopped me from being zealous for my Lord. I think, “Why would he want to use someone like me?,” not realising that he is already doing just that. He uses the weak to show he is strong.
Don’t let your shame leave you high and dry, drinking from water that will leave you thirsty again. Drink the “living water” (John 4:10)! And just like the Samaritan woman, don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by your past, by what has been crucified with Christ. Be willing to let God change and use you to show others that Jesus is the spring of life. And then, when you see others doing exactly that, don’t forget it is Jesus himself who chose to give his message to everyone without qualification. The righteous and the unrighteous. Make sure your heart isn’t fooling you into thinking you’re the one with the bucket.
