“Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come back.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands,’ and the one you have now is not your husband.’” (Jn. 4:16-18)
Before this moment, the conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well had been safe and impersonal, but not now. When Jesus says He knows about her marital history and current living situation, He couldn’t have been more personal.
When Jesus got personal with this woman, He wasn’t trying to be rude or intrusive. He did so because grace can’t heal, restore, or bless someone unless it becomes personal.
We could describe Jesus by using many words, but casual wouldn’t be on the list. There was too much for Jesus to do, and the stakes were too high for Him to be superficial and impersonal.
Just as Jesus got personal with this woman, so He wants to be personal with us. We can’t have a real relationship with Jesus unless it’s personal. Although we can try to keep Jesus at arm’s length because we don’t want Him to see some aspects of our lives—do we really think He doesn’t see all?
Jesus not only wants to be personal with us, but He also wants us to be personal, real, and honest with each other. Having a personal relationship with each other is one of the most important and tangible ways we can know Him.
Many of us avoid having personal relationships because we’re afraid that if others really knew us, they wouldn’t like us, much less love us. The truth is actually just the opposite. We can’t really be liked, and we certainly can’t be loved unless we are known, seen, and accepted.
Jesus encourages us to be in fellowship with Him and with each other so that we can know and be known, love, and be loved. Until we get personal with Jesus, His grace may not be able to give us the healing we need. Until we get personal with each other, we will not experience the love we desire.
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? If so, I’m sure you know you’re blessed. If not, may I encourage you to seriously consider having one with Him? It will change your life.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? If so, when did that start? If not, why not?
- When was the last time you did an inventory of your personal relationships? Are you taking care of those who are most important to you?
- How has the love you have received from others helped you to understand God’s love? How is God’s love for you helping you to love others?