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I heard a joke recently that caused me to pause and think… A man got lost walking through the desert. Desperate for water
he saw something far off in the distance. Hoping to find water, he walked toward the image, only to find a little old woman
sitting at a card table with a bunch of neckties laid out on it. The thirsty man asked, "Please, I'm dying of thirst,
can I have some water?" The woman replied "I don't have any water, but why don't you buy a tie? Here's
one that goes nicely with your outfit." The man shouted, "I don't want a tie, I just need water!" "Okay,
don't buy a tie. But to show you what a nice person I am, I'll tell you that over that hill there, about four miles,
is a nice restaurant. Walk that way, they'll give you all the water you want." The dehydrated soul thanked the woman
and walked away toward the hill and eventually disappeared. Three hours later he returned crawling back to where the woman
was still sitting behind her card table. She said "I told you, about four miles over that hill. Couldn't you find
it?" The man rasped, "I found it all right. They wouldn't let me in without a tie!!!" A little harsh humor….but it reminded me of the passage in John 4 that I recently shared.
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman they had the following exchange:
“When
a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had
gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How
can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew
the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living
water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and
his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks
the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up
to eternal life.”
I have
a couple of thoughts regarding the joke and the passage.
# 1.
We won’t ever require ties to get into church! As Chaplain at the hospital I wore a tie regularly. I probably will this Sunday and on many occasions. I
do so for a variety of reasons. There is nothing wrong with a necktie; but there would be if we made it a requirement to come
to church. Now I know many of us grew up years ago when we were
taught to put on our Sunday best.
That was intended to show reverence for the Lord. I still believe we should come in our Sunday best, I just think now it’s
about much more than the clothes we wear. Our Sunday best should be our heart, our spirit. In John 4 Jesus goes on to say
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth,
for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and
in truth.” God is concerned much more with our hearts than our outward appearance. I think it is nice to dress properly
to show respect. I also think we never want a dress requirement to cause anyone to feel less than welcome in God’s house.
And if by chance someone ever shows up at church not quite dressed like we might think is right; let’s make sure we
are more helpful than the lady selling ties in the desert. People are thirsty out there……
#2. I believe when Jesus talks about water here He
is talking about His Spirit. As long as we live in these jars of flesh we are going to need water. Most
people say the human body can rarely survive more than 3 days without liquid. I don’t think that’s what Jesus
is talking about here. He says, “the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal
life.” Wow, talk about great news! The life of God can well up inside of us! Now, there are times when
we feel as parched as the man in the above joke that was lost in the desert. There are days and seasons when we are desperate
for refreshing. We hunger for God’s voice, we thirst for His presence. Jesus tells us that He has no rules like “no
ties, no service”. He just tells us to come to Him and he will refresh us. Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who
are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. No matter where you are he welcomes you. No matter what your theology, your life experience, your struggle or your doubts.
He doesn’t make us buy ties and get all dressed up. He’s honored if we do but He is gracious to receive us wherever
we are.
When I was little we used to sing
Just
as I am.
One verse has these lyrics:
Just as I am, though tossed about with many
a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings
and fears within, without, O Lamb
of God, I come,
I come.
Those
words ring as true now as they did
the first time I heard them. For that I am thankful.
Jesus does not tell us tell us no shoes no shirt no service.
He says
(just as Kenney Chesney sings) No Shoes No Shirt No Problem.
The message of Jesus is always come - just as you
are.
Buddy
Duncan Substitute Preacher
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