Staying With Them

Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4:27-42


You can really get to know someone if you go and stay with them. Traveling and camping out with folks will either solidify a friendship or strain it to the breaking point. When I went off to Scout camp the first time, I learned that some girls will befriend you but they will also turn on you. You find out who really is a friend when you share close quarters. Sharing food and space shows us all our real selves. We cannot hide behind pretense when you have to share so much together. A shared experience, like living or traveling together will bond folks as life long friends.

Jesus had this remarkable encounter with the Samaritan woman. She went back and told her story and her people came to see Jesus. Her tale was so powerful they had to see for themselves and invite Jesus to stay with them. They offered hospitality and he came to stay with them. He was not afraid to share their food and shelter, their most intimate of moments with them. And because of that, they came to know God incarnate in their midst.

Today may we seek God through hospitality and invitation. May we be willing to share our food and lives with others so they might know the absolute welcome of God.