Jesus Defies Culture: The Woman at the Well (excerpt 3 of 5)

You are joining in the middle of a series of posts with excerpts from my book, “Who Do You Think You Are?” focusing on Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the water well (John 4:1-30).

Read the first post >> Entry #1

Read the second post >> Entry #2

Buy the book now>> Click Here

The culture came head-to-head with Christ’s behavior. Consider the ways this encounter was so radical, and how many man-made rules He broke. Most striking, rabbinical law stated that Samaritan women were considered unclean. Jesus rejected this Jewish teaching by reaching out to a mixed-race female (that’s two strikes against her), AND whose morality was in question. It would never cross the mind of any “good Jew” to treat this person as a fellow human being.

Secondly, a godly Jewish man, let alone a rabbi (teacher), was not to speak to a woman in public. Men simply did not speak to women in public. In fact, a husband would not even address his wife if he saw her on the street! Yet Jesus, a revered rabbi, willingly initiates conversation with this down-and-out, mixed-race female at one of the village’s social hot spots.

Thirdly, religious segregation was standard for both women and Samaritans. Not only would a Jewish man never drink from a woman’s cup, a rabbi would never even associate with a “sinner.” Think now about how Jesus opened his conversation with the Samaritan woman by asking to have a drink from her cup! This surely alarmed her. He asked to drink from the cup of a woman viewed by the culture to be in a constant state of uncleanness. That’s radical! His request would have been like a white man drinking from a fountain marked “colored only” in Alabama in the 1950s. But here, Jesus Christ Himself not only asks for a drink, He engages in a lengthy conversation with, a woman “sinner” … in public.

Check back here for the next post with more from “Who Do You Think You Are?”

Like Having a Map in a Foreign Country …

Who do you think you are?
If I could sit down with you right now over a cup of coffee, that’s what I’d ask you. (That’s right, I’m not much for small talk!) I’m not asking what you do for a living or who you’re married to or how you’re related to someone important. I’m wondering just who, exactly, you think you are!
The question is also the title of my latest book, one from which I share the excerpt below. May it get the wheels of your mind turning, and may it prompt you to ask hard, heartfelt questions of the Lord. He longs to meet you in your need … He longs to answer your deepest questions of identity.

When someone has embraced her true identity she can begin to live out the unique calling God has placed on her life. The first step to living your calling is to internalize a biblical perspective of your identity. My hope is that you will do
this in the same way you would take hold of a map in a foreign country.

Imagine never having set foot in a strange land. Everything is new. You don’t recognize the language people speak, let alone know how to read it. You can’t tell north from south. So how in the world would you get from point A to point B? A map or a GPS device would become your one source for even the slightest feeling of reassurance in this uncomfortable situation.

(My husband) Fred is not intimidated by such unfamiliarity. He loves the adventure of striking out into the unknown. His attitude is best summarized every time he exclaims with a smile on his face, “I can figure it out!” I, however, like to know where I am going. I relish the feeling of a map in my hands or the sight of a GPS device mounted on the dash of my vehicle.

Once when we were traveling together in Budapest, we needed to head out of town toward Romania. Without a GPS available, we circled the city for half an hour. When we drove past our hotel for the second time, once again at ground zero,
Fred finally admitted he needed a map. Ah … direction. True direction! The map we bought was new. It was up-to-date and reliable. We could trust it. And thanks to the map – viola! – we were on our way.

We clung to it because we were lost without it. And now, no matter what anyone told us, we knew the lay of the land. Should a stranger have offered directions contrary to our map, we would have smiled and said, “Thanks, but no thanks.” We could confidently drown out every voice contrary to the map because we knew it was right! We could rely on it and dismiss any confusing directions offered to us by well-meaning strangers.

This is what a biblical worldview of your identity does for you. It drowns out every lie and twisting of the truth that stands opposed to God’s truth. It stands secure, steady, and true while your fickle feelings, faulty assumptions, the media, poor role models and other such worldly influences mercilessly attack it. But nothing else matters when you hold the truth in your possession. You know who you are.

If you like what you read and want more, as they say, “where that came from,” buy the book today! Click here to purchase!

Give A Lasting Gift This Mother's Day!

Flowers fade and chocolates melt, but a woman’s true identity lasts for eternity.

This Mother’s Day, give your mom a gift that will get her rooted in God’s truth and flourishing as the unique woman He has created her to be. Dr. Kristin Beasley’s latest book, “Who Do You Think You Are,” unveils every woman’s priceless value, no matter who they are or what they’ve been through. Zero room for doubt remains after you discover how each Person of the Trinity meets each of a woman’s three core needs. And with the tools presented in this book, life transformation is possible for anyone … from 18 to 98!
With biblical wisdom, current research, and firsthand stories, Dr. Beasley helps you answer that one nagging question (“who do you think you are?”) with resounding clarity.Order your copy for Mom today: Click Here to Order

The book is already in 15 countries, changing lives across cultural divides. Check out one reader’s feedback!

“Who Do You Think You Are” Book Feedback

If you ask any of us here at Greater Reach about the book “Who Do You Think You Are,” you’ll hear nothing but good things. (We can’t help it … we love it. We believe its message has life-changing power.) But you can’t just take our word for it! Women around the world are excited about it, too.

Read this unedited book recommendation from reader Susan Marovic:

“Women looking for a greater role in the world and wanting to know how to be MORE . . . this is the book for you. Dr. Beasley explores some of our assumptions about ourselves and how our families helped us form these assumptions. For example, “when we have a painful emotional experience, we women often blame ourselves.” I do not know of a woman who has not done this very same thing. She helps us find out if our assumptions about ourselves are rooted in our culture or society and how to come up with more accurate views of ourselves. Jesus communicated a true respect for women in His day and was quite revolutionary in His thinking. ‘Jesus intentionally included women in His Kingdom work’ helped me realize that God has a definite place and job for me in His Kingdom. “

Another area that helped me understand others was the area of self-esteem. This is one of the fruits of skewed assumptions about ourselves. For example, Dr. Beasley states:

“‘If you have chronic low self-esteem, I need to tell you that you are most likely self-absorbed. Women with low self-esteem are as self-absorbed as the biggest egomaniac because their thoughts revolve around themselves, their problems, and how bad or unworthy they are. This will hold you back from accomplishing anything.’

“She also helped me understand that my career is not necessarily a mandate from God—‘your personal mandate is about something much bigger than a paycheck. It involves your entire life, not just your working hours.’

“This book is written for the woman with a busy career AND a woman who does not work but desires true significance—it IS more than a paycheck, despite what the world would have you believe!”

And there you have it … straight from not our lips, but from the fingertips of an eager reader!

Perhaps you or someone you know will have more than an “ah ha!” moment when you read this book; you may have an entire reawakening to the person God created you to be. You may unearth the very specific purpose for this life He has called you to live. Don’t wait! ORDER NOW

By: Kristin Beasley (Jodi Carlson)