2003.1.19. Rev. Young Jin Cho

Journey of Change

John 4:1-26

One of the fundamental thesis of the Protestantism is that the church must be endlessly renewed. The stationary church is easy to be corrupted just as still water gathers mold and cannot cope with the tasks of the time. It may be peaceful. When it is peaceful, that is when we have to ask anew the meaning of the church. This is true with today's reality of our church. When we do not have too many problems and continue to gain new members, now is the time to reflect the meaning of church more than any other times. It is the time to discern clearly the intent of our Lord, who is the head of our church.

My Congregation! What kind of place is this church? Why should there be church? Why did you come to church this morning? Many answers are possible. They will lead to various discussions. But I want to say one thing this morning. Church is where life is restored. It is a place where we seek a new life and transformation within the church gospel. Within the living church many lives are transformed, and experience new feeling of gratitude and the Holy Spirit. It may be important to learn more information about Christianity. But we must go beyond the learning. It must be a place where transformation, not just information, takes place. Last week, I spoke under the theme of 'Comfort My People.' The way of the true comfort is found in the Gospel. We can stand up again when comforted within the truth of Jesus who restores life. This comfort is the result of the transformed life. If life cannot be transformed within Christ, comfort becomes merely a relief. A true comfort comes when our life is transformed. Therefore, if we believe in Jesus, we must be changed. We must be transformed. We must be reborn as a new life. If so, what need to be changed? What is meant by transformation? When you believe in Jesus, what is to be changed? How should you be changed?

I.

Today's text Book of John 4th chapter gives a clear answer. The Samaritan woman who was transformed from the meeting and conversation with Jesus awakens us - who seek the new changed lives. It shows us how to transform and what need to be transformed. When Jesus returned to Galilee from Judea, he was passing by a town called Synchar. Tired from journey, Jesus was resting on the famous well of Jacob for a short while. The disciples had gone to town to buy food. Jesus was having quiet moments. Then, the conversation started with a woman who came to draw water around noontime. Today's scripture is about this conversation between Jesus and the woman.

The great preacher and scholar, Professor Fred Craddock pointed out 2 important movements from today's text; first, the regional movement and second movement of human change.

(1) Looking at the first movement, we see the stage of Jesus' mission activities is gradually expanding. According to Book of John, Jesus' mission activities started at Galilee, moved to Jerusalem and then expanded to the land of Judea. It shows the Gospel spreading from Galilee to Jerusalem, Judea and Samria. Professor Craddock connects this text to Act 1:8 - Jesus' command to his disciples to witness the Gospel in Jerusalem, entire Judea and the end of Samaria.

(2) The second movement was the journey of change that took place in Jesus conversation with the woman. As the conversation between Jesus and the unknown Samaritan woman progressed, deeper and profound meanings emerged. Jesus' words awoke the woman and helped her to reflect on herself. Transcending her poor understanding of the Bible, she became a witness to Messiah,

This journey of change awakens our life of faith. It teaches us how to be reborn, teaches us the journey of change we must follow. It awakens us how to change when we believe in Jesus. This meeting and conversation with Jesus suggest to us what need to be changed within us and what changes have to take place in the church. These are precious words. These are the words we must contemplate deeply.

II.

I want to say more concretely.

(1) First, certain interesting things were found in the conversation between Jesus and the woman. They were the barriers of mind between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. There were at least 2 barriers. First was the barrier between Jews and Samaritans. In 721 B.C. northern Israeli kingdom was defeated by Assyrians, Other people came to the land and intermarried. The Jews in the southern kingdom flaunted orthodoxy and looked down upon the Samaritans living in the northern kingdom. Thus, the relationship between Jews and Samaritans could not have been good. Second was the barrier between rabbi and woman. Good rabbis considered talking with woman to be a taboo. "Having a long conversation with woman on the street was prohibited. Do not talk even with your wife." "Rather than teaching the commandment to woman, burn the commandment." Talking long with woman brings evil. You will eventually fall to an unchaste woman. These sayings were well known to rabbis and teachers. Thus, when Jesus asked this woman for water, the woman showed surprise reaction. You are a Jew and how can you ask me for a drink?

Jesus played a critical role in breaking these barriers. First, he took the initiative and knocked at this woman's life. Breaking down the barrier, he knocked at the life's door. He opened the door of conversation asking for a drink. It is the same with us. Today he came to us first and called us. And that is how we are here today. We also came to participate in the journey for change. While knocking at our subjectivism, prejudices and stubbornness, He speaks to our lives today. He is calling us.

(2) Second, there came the next phase. When Jesus asked for water and introduced the 'living water', her world of knowledge was opening up. Jesus asked this woman: "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you a 'living water'". The woman replied. "Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Jesus said: "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But, whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to the eternal life." The woman said: "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."

My congregation! What do you find in this conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman? This woman spoke about earthly visible things. But Jesus was speaking about heavenly invisible things. We see the flow of conversation from different perspectives. This woman talked about the water she draws and drinks. Jesus was talking about the spring of water welling up to eternal life that satisfies the thirst for soul. In other words, He was speaking of the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.

Dear Church members! What should be transformed, when you keep coming to the church and pursuing the life of faith? We have to open our eyes to this very world Jesus was speaking about. The life that used to look at earth as everything must be able to look up to heaven. The life that believed only the visible things must be able to see invisible things. The life tied to a limit need to be changed to the life with eternity planted in hearts. Our lives, which only knew the water we drink, must be able to taste the living water. The world's view must be changed. If you believe in Jesus, you must open your eyes to this new world. If you pursue a life of faith within church, you must open your mind to this world of spirit.

(3) Third, there was a related change. Her shameful life, hidden hurts and pain are to be revealed and corrected. In John 4:16 Jesus led the conversation with the woman to a deeper perspective. He said: "Go, call your husband and come back." The woman said: "I have no husband." Jesus said: "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is that you have had five husbands and the man you have now is not your husband." Jesus pointed out in this conversation her basic and shameful problems - the chain that bound her and need to be released. Biblical scholars say: the fact that this woman came to draw water at noon suggests that she had many problems in her life. Ordinarily one would have come the well in the morning. But since she went there at noon, she probably wanted to avoid meeting the townspeople.

In any event, she had many problems. After five husbands, she still could not free from the shackles of her life. Even though she had a new man, she could not call him her husband. She was a woman who was branded as shameful by townspeople. Jesus revealed the problem that was shackling her to her shameful situation. He let her see herself. Why? In order to right her wrongs! To open up new days for the woman!

My congregation! This is the difficult part in our life of faith. In many cases we go on living while hiding problems. We live with the problems buried, because uncovering them would bring shame and pain. In that situation, even if you believe in Jesus, probably the problems won't get solved. As you cannot go to the deep sea of grace, you will merely stay spinning in the shallow water. Although it looks as though we received the amazing grace, our life did not seem to be changed. The problems, when tied by the feet, cannot move forward. As a consequence, we spend our days in frustration.

My congregation! If you hide, wouldn't our Lord know it? Just because you wrap it, wouldn't our Lord know the truth? Just because you cover it, wouldn't He know? Our Lord already knows everything. He wants you to overcome the frustrating problems. He is waiting for you to open up new days after overcoming your problems and pain. He is eagerly waiting for you to be reborn as the true being after shedding the face-saving mask!

It is a very difficult step. But in this journey of change, you cannot skip this step. Let's invite ourselves to the bosom of God's love. Tell your problem to God and ask for his help. Seek the power and capability to stop and turn around when needed. Our Lord is waiting. He is ready to help you. Bring forth your mind's hurt, deep pain. And start the new way of true freedom.

(4) The woman whose heart was aching from the husband problems says: "I can see that you are a prophet." In this conversation with the Lord, we find the step where we can truly understand and learn who Jesus Christ is.

When coming to church, you should really know who this Jesus is. Existentially speaking, it is a question of who Jesus is for me and myself. The Samaritan woman confessed it to Christ who already knew her life. Jesus is the prophet. As the conversation advanced, this woman said in John 4:25: "I know Messiah (Christ) is coming." Our Lord then clearly said: "I am the Messiah, Christ. The woman initially thought Jesus was a prophet. But she then realized that He was the Messiah, the Savior.

My Congregation. What do you think of Christ today? Who is He in your own life? Non-believers also regard him as a great teacher, or one of the four great men. If you continue to church and walk the life of faith, your understanding of Jesus cannot stop here. If you believe in Jesus, your understanding of Jesus must be changed. It must be transformed.

You need to hear what others say who Jesus is. We need to learn. But the more important thing is 'I'. Who is this Jesus Christ to me? This Jesus asked his disciples: "What do people say who I am?" The question was followed by; "who do you think I am?" He wanted to hear the response from the disciples, yes, and my own answer. Who is this Christ to you? Yes, who is this Jesus for me? Is he really the Savior? We must know Jesus Christ correctly. We must change our understanding of Jesus Christ. We must have different understanding of Him from that of the world.

(5) Fifth, although not shown in today's text, there was a transformation within this woman. That is to proselytize Jesus to the townspeople whom she wanted to avoid. She invited them to come and see. The ultimate destination of today's journey of change is to become the witness for Christ. This woman was not just satisfied with the meeting with Jesus. She wanted to tell everyone. She wanted to proselytize. So she went out and proselytized. She cried out, "He is the one who knew everything I did. Come and see. Isn't He the Christ, the Savior" Many people came and listened to Jesus' words. And they believed and asked Jesus to stay with them. John 4:40 tell us: "Jesus stayed with them for 2 days. Many people came after listening to woman's proselytizing, now heard from Jesus directly and started to believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world."

The mature believers must overcome the selfish barrier. We should not be satisfied with merely salvation of our own soul, I long for more people to experience the living water that never makes you thirsty within the Gospel. From this longing, one goes out, proselytizes and cries out. He lives as witness. Through lips and transformed life, he witnesses the Gospel. Have you tasted this transformation? How much have you proselytized Jesus? Are you very accomplished in the world but incompetent in spreading the Gospel? Are you thinking, by any chance, that faith is a question of individual choice and thus there's no need to proselytize? Do you pursue a life of faith with a false understanding of Gospel?

III.

What kind of transformation must take place within the church? You must open your heart, when called upon, see beyond the limit of the visible world, and open eyes and hears toward the eternity. You may feel ashamed, but you must reveal the true self and receive rectification. You must know Jesus Christ correctly and live as his witness. This change must take place. This transformation of life must take place within us.

I want to say especially this. There is a context in which this journey of change was most vigorously pursued. This is the very cell meeting. This cell meeting is the small church to bring about a strong and powerful transformation, where the small number of church members open their hearts and pray together and seek the disciple's path together. Although still there is room for improvements, the last 3 years showed clear possibilities and the presence of Holy Spirit. On the basis of past experiences we will renew our efforts. Please pray for the effort. And continue to participate in this effort.

Please pray that the wind of change blows strongly and all the church members within the calling Lord walk strongly the journey of transformation. The Lord is calling us today to live the life of the true free people, where we unload our hurt, pain and sinfulness.

Heavy snowfall came to Grass Valley, California, east of Sierra Mountains for 3 days. During this heavy snowfall, Priest O'Malley received a telephone call one night. It was a call from Auburn Hospital. The call said that there was a dying patient and asked if he could come and perform the last rite. It was past midnight but the priest O'Malley drove through the snow with great difficulties and arrived at the hospital.

The priest, led by a nurse, came to the room of a patient named Tom. After introducing himself, he said he was merely passing by and asked if they could talk. Tom said it is 3:30 AM and who would pass by at this hour. I asked the foolish nurse and was told the priest had probably arrived. When the priest asked if he wanted to make any confessions, Tom did not open his mouth. After long tense moments, Tom opened his mouth. I worked all my life as a switchman at a railroad station. After retiring few years ago, I had lived in the wood. Now, I could never forget what happened exactly 32 years 2 months 1 days ago. It was 2 days before Christmas. It rained cats and dogs. The railroad workers were having a party and drinking. I volunteered and went outside in rain and pressed the switch. I must have drunk more than I thought I did. Because I pressed the switch incorrectly, the freight train going at 45 mph hit the crossing car. In this accident, a young husband, his wife and their 2 daughters were killed. After the accident I had never been free of guilty conscience and burden. After a long silence Priest O'Malley gently put his hands on Tom's shoulder. If I can forgive you, God will certainly forgive you. Those who lost their lives by the auto accident were none other than my very own parents and 2 sisters.

Within the Gospel, the capabilities exist for forgiveness and setting you free. Let's share this Gospel. Let's forgive each other and continue with the journey of change. Our Lord established church for the transformed lives. He called us all for the transformed lives.