Words of Life: An Enduring LegacySample

Legacy of light: seeing clearly.

John’s imagery is so vivid that we can almost picture the scene. It’s noon – the hottest, brightest part of the day. Jesus approaches a figure drawing water from a well. Everything about this character suggests she is someone a Jewish man would typically avoid: she’s a woman, a Samaritan, of low status and living in a vulnerable situation. Yet Jesus engages her in conversation. In this moment of revelation, she sees him for who he truly is. So much so that she leaves her water jar behind and rushes to tell others, who, because of her testimony, come to believe in Jesus.

This story, while remarkable in itself, takes on even deeper significance when read alongside John 3. There, we meet Nicodemus – someone who, by all accounts, we would expect to recognise the Messiah. He was an educated man, a respected religious leader, knowledgeable in Scripture, and full of status and influence. But his encounter with Jesus happens at night, under the cover of darkness (John 3:2). This contrast is more than a time marker; it highlights a recurring theme in John’s Gospel: those who might be expected to see Jesus clearly often remain in the shadows, while the least likely – such as the Samaritan woman – see him in the light of day.

This contrast challenges us today. Are we, like Nicodemus, immersed in knowledge and religion yet struggling to fully grasp Jesus? Or are we like the Samaritan woman – written off by others, but open to revelation and transformation? Encountering Jesus isn’t just for our own benefit – it calls us to action. Like the woman at the well, we are called to meet with Jesus, share our testimony, and invite others to experience the life-changing presence of Christ. Today, will we step out of the shadows and into the light, allowing Jesus to be truly seen in us?

What barriers might be keeping me in the shadows, and how can I step into the light to fully embrace and share the life-changing presence of Jesus?