"How is it that you, 

a Jew, 

ask for a drink 

from me, 

a Samaritan woman?" she asked him.

For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.

John 4:9 CSB

We hear a lot about systematic abuse, systemic racism, and here we see an example.

Jewish men prayed daily thankful that God hadn't made them a woman.

To Jews, Samaritans were "them". Less than.

She was from the hated group, was of the despised gender, and, while we don't know the story of how she ended up living with a sixth man, she would've been seen as immoral.

A "them" among "thems".

Jesus actions were a dissenting voice against the crushing religious & social systems. 

And he dissented because he saw the person.

And when I'm inclined to label someone, to put someone in a "them" category, or a "less than" category, I lose sight of the person, the person who is an image bearer of God.

Be a dissident. 

Be against the systems that make people "less than", there is no "them", just us. 

Jesus actions say that he sees the person without the labels.

That's love.

Love that changes everything.

#gospelofJohn

#dearlyloved

#grace

#lovethatchangeseverything