Have you ever tried to tell a story about a memory of yours to a group of people that wasn’t there… and it doesn't go well? 

I sure have. And usually about halfway through the story I realize that the story is bombing due the mere fact that the people weren’t there, so it’s simply not as funny or awesome as it was for me. 

And so I trail off and end the failed story with, “You just had to be there… anyway.” 

Can you relate? 

Sometimes moments are only impactful if they are personal. 

And I believe when it comes to Jesus, this is extremely true. 

There is so much power in faith that is handed down to us through parents, grandparents, and generations of Christians who have gone before us. Christian history is something to learn from, be encouraged by, and be aware of. 

And yet, at some point, you just had to be there. 

The ways and things of God have to stop being mere stories or handed down traditions. They have to become personal for you too. You have to step over the line from casual observer to someone who invites the actual presence and power of God into your daily life. 

You have to be there. In the presence of God. 

One of the stories that powerfully communicates this is the woman at the well in John chapter 4. If you don’t know this story, pause what you're doing and read it right now, or if you don’t feel like reading more at the moment, head to YouTube and watch the woman at the well scene from the TV show, The Chosen. 

It’s a powerful moment in the Gospels. Where Jesus encounters a woman who has been excluded by her town in light of her past, and decides to meet her with grace. He decides to get personal. He offers her something that would change her life forever and allow her to stop chasing after other things to satisfy her soul. 

The thing I love about the story is that she seems to know the facts. She even seems to know the Old Testament stories and the fact that a Messiah is on the way. She clearly has some things that have been handed down to her through tradition and that’s incredible. 

And yet Jesus says in His own way, “You just had to be there.” 

And invites her into His presence, into His truth, into His love. Right there at the well in the middle of a hot day. 

Of all their back and forth, I love this exchange… 

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10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw water with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

John 4:10-15

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Incredible. An invitation to “be there.” Truly. A moment for her to leave behind her reputation and past and step into a full life that only comes from Jesus Himself. And she says yes. And newsflash, she runs to the very town that she appears to be ostracized from, and evangelizes to everyone. And only because of her response, Jesus and His disciples stay in this town for a few extra days and many people are saved. 

She went from the well to the world. 

All because she stopped being an observer who knew some stories, and understood that she had to be there. She had to be with Jesus. She had to be in His presence. She had to surrender to this man who told her everything that she ever did. Gosh… it’s just so good. 

What average, ordinary, commonplace moment could you invite Jesus into? Instead of separating your life into “Jesus times” and “everything else”, how can you invite Jesus into your here and now? 

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