Faces

We all put on different faces in order to fit in. You've got your daughter face, your student face, your friend face, your work face. Maybe your Christian face. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. And I've come to the conclusion that having so many faces can be confusing. And we can get lost. Because if we only show certain faces to certain people, then we never let anyone in on the whole story. We never fully turn to face anyone. All these stifled personalities. Half truths. Sins we're trying to hide.

 

A few weeks ago, my small group studied John 4: 1-42. This tells the story of a Samaritan woman’s encounter with Christ at a well. These verses show us a Savior who knows everything about the woman - even those things that bring her guilt and shame. And what does Jesus do? He draws near to her anyway. And with great joy and urgency, the woman proclaims to those in her community that Christ knows everything she ever did. 

 

Now wait a minute. Her past life was brimming with sin! She had been married several times, and the man she was living with was not her husband. In her day, bouncing around in that many romantic relationships meant nothing but trouble. Her identity was completely wrapped up in the men she dated and slept with. Why would you declare that to your community? How could this deep knowledge that Christ has of her ever be good news? 

 

 

The intimate knowledge that Christ has of her life is good news, because it is accompanied by a call to relationship. Look again. He draws near to her. Christ identifies Himself as the Messiah – the One who will put things right between us and God. The Samaritan woman can be joyful about being completely known by Christ, because it means she is also completely loved. Imagine what that could be like. Completely known, and completely loved. That is the heart of the Gospel. So don't be afraid - quit hiding your face.