This is a different sort of sermon. Bible reading is often about multiple layers and this is particularly true in a series on racism. Think of Bible reading like those books you’ve seen about human anatomy in which layers of transparency sheets reveal different things: one transparency over a skeleton reveals the circulatory system, while another would show the muscular system. In our series, we will look at that transparency which helps us gain a great appreciation of Jesus’ gospel concern that the kingdom of God is about ending hostilities and making the one human race – well, one.
And from the outset you should know two things about this series on racial justice. First, it starts and ends, is guided and formed, is shaped and challenged, by Jesus SO THAT we can do what Jesus does. Second, while not on the same level, it’s equally important to say that it will be uncomfortable. It will hurt. In a recent YouTube series called Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man the host asks a prominent pastor a question that stood out:
“What would Jesus be doing if he were walking the earth right now?” The pastor answered: “If people want to contend with this question, you can go read about what he did. There’s no question where Jesus would be. Where did you find him when we have record of him? Who was he with? More importantly, who was he angering?” And the answer he shared to his own question was – proximity; that Jesus was always leaning into and attending the hurting. He said, “So if you have to wonder where Jesus would be you got to go back to your Bible because he’s where hurting people are.” So let’s go back to our Bible and listen to Jesus as we seek to confront racial injustice.
Jesus takes the shortest route but not the most comfortable path. He actually refuses to go the long way around like most Jews who were accustomed to crossing the river Jordan twice in order to do an end-run around Samaritan territory. And you know as I have been talking to people I want to acknowledge that this topic of racism is Samaritan territory. It’s something that we’re afraid of. It’s something that we’re silent about. It’s something that we want to go the long way around – by calling it politics, by ignoring the inequities, by doubting the stories of brothers and sisters of color who speak endlessly about racial pain.
But Jesus always takes the express route to healing, to reconciliation. Jesus’ “had to go through Samaria” was not a geographic statement but a gospel “had to,” a refusal to avoid the challenging and the hard to talk about so that salvation could come. Jesus, friends, would talk about racism. And it’s uncomfortable – both then AND now.
It was a topic that implicated his own followers. Jump on over to Luke 9:51-55.
Jesus’ own followers are complicit by more than an indifference to the plight of the Samaritans but by a real and violent hostility. They wanted to stand with Jesus and call upon their special status to inflict terror on the Samaritans. When the Samaritans refused to allow Jesus entrance, James and John asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Did you notice that it was only Jesus who rebuked James and John? Why didn’t the others speak up? They were afraid. It reveals that Jesus and his followers are out of sync. Another haunting question from the video Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man was: “Why is the white church so silent? Why is the white church so fearful about naming and condemning racism?”
And make no mistake: he will rebuke us for both our silence as well as our wishes of violence. He will have compassion but will not coddle us. Compassion without confrontation is coddling. He will confront us. He wants us to be transformed.
But Jesus does more than go through Samaria. He also talks TO Samaritans. He goes to the woman, breaks gendered protocol, asks questions, and even places himself in a vulnerable position asking for a drink and possibly being rejected. He leans into proximity and refuses to be separate.
So, I’m going now to give you the sermon in a nutshell – in one sentence – and I want you to remember this sentence for our entire series because we are going to need reminding. Here is the Samaria that no one wants to visit or talk about:
We need courage not only talk about Samaria but to ask Jesus for the strength to walk through Samaria ourselves. How can you walk through Samaria this week? You can join our current small groups who are taking a tour of Samaria – of the challenge of racism that has existed in the United States. You can refuse to remain silent when a racist thing is uttered by anyone.
But Jesus does more than simply sit by this woman for a nice afternoon chat. He wants to talk about substantive things, weighty things, things which hinder, harm and disorder our lives. He wants to talk about sin. And while her sin might not be your sin or even solely her own fault, I want you to be this woman, take her place at the well and recognize that we cannot escape Jesus talking about our sin as we approach this topic of racism. This gets hard and thorny for people and will take more than one sermon to unpack. Jesus doesn’t accuse, judge, or even blame but does name the truth. Before we even get to elements of responsibility or talking about bias, or worrying over guilt or blame, we must begin with a simple, though difficult, truth: Racism exists in the U.S – this is a fact. On every index of human flourishing (housing, education, food security, etc.) people of color are disadvantaged beyond their own personal responsibility or choices.
The Samaritans were the descendants of the Israelites who fell to the Assyrian Empire in the seventh century BC. According to 1 Chron. 5:26, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh were deported. Those left behind were assimilated with Persians who came into the war-torn region. What came about was increased hostility, rival temples and Scriptures, resulting in Judea burning the Samaritan temple to the ground within a couple of generations prior to our encounter with Jesus and the woman. The important thing to understand at this point is that SIN HAS A HISTORY, a long term effect that is more than merely personal or punctiliar (confined solely to one moment in time). In the same way, the history of slavery and Jim Crow laws have a long reach and a lasting impact.
But notice the woman’s response to Jesus’ discussion of her sin. It wasn’t, “I don’t want to talk about this.” “This is too uncomfortable, please stop.” She didn’t explain away but admitted the point and wades in further. And Jesus doesn’t wag his finger or say “A-ha!” but wants her to see her need and awaken to the “facts” (vs. 18). It’s a willingness to accept what Jesus says. Imagine what would have happened if she had walked away? Will you walk away?
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This is a story about sin, salvation, and hope. Salvation comes when Jesus goes to Samaria and deals with it. Salvation comes when hidden things are brought into the light. It’s about addressing a weary world that is terribly thirsty, and creating a people who worship in Spirit and truth and eat together.
And we’ve already talked about the importance of “truth-telling” but I wanted to take a moment to speak about the Spirit. The Spirit is that unity that comes from confessing Jesus as a Lord and Savior and being given the gift of his presence in our lives to shape us, to heal us, to transform us. And Jesus speaks of a time coming when “true worshippers” will worship in Spirit. Let’s surrender to that. Let’s believe that with gratitude that we can change, that as we give ourselves to Jesus work the world can change to becoming more racially just. Let’s give up our fear for gratitude for this gift that Jesus prayed would make us one. And remember that the King who will explain everything has come and is speaking still. Jesus is the gift.
And, of course, you remember how our story ends. The disciples return, are shocked by Jesus speaking to the woman, and urge him to eat. But Jesus responded, “I have food to eat that you nothing about. My food, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” Friends, let’s have that be our food as well. Let’s follow Jesus, to become like Jesus, to do what Jesus does – and feast on racial justice and feast together. And let’s do that by going to the sacrament which aims to make us one.
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