"BAG LADY"
JOHN 4:4-42 2/01
"JESUS SAID TO HER, YOU ARE RIGHT WHEN YOU SAY YOU HAVE NO HUSBAND. THE FACT IS, YOU HAVE HAD FIVE HUSBANDS, AND THE MAN YOU NOW HAVE IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND"
LOVE IS ONE OF THE SIMPLEST
YET MOST COMPLEX SENSATIONS
IN THE HUMAN REPERTOIRE
OF EMOTIONS
FROM BIRTH ON
EVERYBODY IN HER OR HIS RIGHT MIND
WANTS SOME LOVE
FOR THE INFANT IT IS MOMMA’S LOVE
FOR THE TEEN IT IS
THAT FIRST LOVE
WHILE THE ADULT IS USUALLY LOOKING FOR THAT REAL LOVE
AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH DESIRING LOVE
BECAUSE LOVE IS THE ULTIMATE SENSATION
GOD HAS PUT US IN SEARCH OF
EVERYONE WANTS SOME LOVE
THE PROBLEM IS HOWEVER
IN OUR QUEST TO PROCURE LOVE
WE OFTEN END UP WITH A WHOLE LOT OF BAGGAGE
RESULTING FROM LOVE GONE ARRAY
AND NO WHERE IS THIS MORE EVIDENT
THAN IN THE STORY
YOU ARE ABOUT TO HEAR
IN IT WE FIND JESUS PASSING THROUGH SAMARIA
WHEN HE VENTURES UPON A WELL
FROM WHICH THE LOCAL RESIDENTS DREW WATER
FOR THE VARIOUS PURPOSES FOLKS USED WATER
UPON ARRIVING AT THE WELL
HE MEETS A WOMAN FROM THE AREA
WHO HAD COME TO RETRIEVE WATER FROM SAID WELL
IF YOU REVIEW THE TEXT
YOU WILL DISCOVER IT SAYS SOMETHING IMPORTANT
ABOUT THIS WOMAN THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
IT SAYS SHE WAS A SAMARITAN
WHEN JESUS MEETS THIS WOMAN THERE
HE BEGINS A CONVERSATION BY INQUIRING
WHETHER OR NOT SHE COULD GIVE HIM A DRINK
AFTER WHICH SISTER GIRL - WE NEED TO GIVER HER A NAME
WE’LL CALL HER TAMARIA-
TAMARIA IMMEDIATELY RESPONDS TO HIM BY SAYING
YOU ARE A JEW AND I AM A SAMARITAN WOMAN
HOW CAN YOU ASK ME FOR A DRINK
YOU SEE - AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW
DURING THAT TIME JEWS AND SAMARITANS
DID NOT ASSOCIATE WITH ONE ANOTHER
AS A MATTER OF FACT
IF YOU WERE JEWISH-
ASSOCIATING WITH A SAMARITAN
YOU MIGHT BE CONSIDERED
RITUALLY UNCLEAN BY OTHER JEWS…
SO THE FACT THAT JESUS WOULD SPEAK WITH A SAMARITAN
WAS A RADICAL THING FOR HIM TO DO
DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME
OF COURSE ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT POINT HERE
IS THAT THERE WERE SIMILAR PROHIBITIONS
AGAINST A TEACHER OF JESUS STATUS
SPEAKING WITH ANY WOMAN
BY CONVERSING WITH TAMARIA
JESUS WAS BREAKING
RULE AFTER RULE
BUT THAT IN ITSELF SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT WHO JESUS IS
IF IT CAME TO A CHOICE BETWEEN
MAINTAINING A MAN MADE RULE
OR HELPING A PERSON IN NEED-
JESUS SHOWED OVER AND OVER AGAIN
THAT HE WAS GOING TO HELP THE PERSON
DON’T GET ME WRONG NOW
I DIDN’T SAY JESUS WOULD BREAK GOD’S RULES-
BUT HUMAN RULES AND TRADITIONS
OR INACCURATE INTERPRETATIONS OF GOD’S LAW
WOULD NOT STAND IN THE WAY
OF JESUS HELPING A PERSON
BECOME HEALED IN BODY, MIND OR SPIRIT
SO JESUS CONTINUES HIS CONVERSATION WITH TAMARIA-
BY SAYING
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-
NOW LET’S PAUSE HERE FOR A MOMENT
----
AS A REFORMED RAPPER - IN THE OLD SCHOOL SENSE
THAT IS
AS ONE WHO IS VERSED
WITH THE CONVERSATIONAL TECHNIQUES
UTILIZED IN THE REALM OF
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BETWEEN MEMBERS OF OPPOSITE GENDERS
I FIND CHRIST’S CONVERSATIONAL METHODOLOGY
WORTHY OF SIGNIFICANT ANALYSIS
FOR THE SAKE ENHANCING ONE’S OWN
EVANGELICAL VOCABULARY
LET ME SAY THIS DIFFERENTLY
THE WAY JESUS HOLLERED AT TAMARIA
WAS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE FOR US TODAY
ON HOW TO BRING FOLKS TO THE LORD
YOU SEE - BACK IN THE 70S
I MIGHT HAVE USED THE LINE
HEY BABY - WHAT’S YOUR SIGN
OR HEY GIRL - DO YOU HAVE THE TIME
AND THEN BASED ON HER RESPONSE
WOULD FOLLOW UP THAT LINE
WITH MORE MACK IN ORDER
TO EVENTUALLY GET HER NAME AND NUMBER-
OF COURSE THOSE WERE MY PRE-MARRIED PRE-CHRISTIAN DAYS
TODAY A WANNA BE BIG BALLER
MIGHT HOLLER AT A LADY WITH THE PHRASE
HEY BABY - WHERE’S YOUR MAN AT
AND THEN BASED ON HER RESPONSE
FOLLOW IT UP WITH A FEW MORE LINES
DESIGNED TO HELP HIM MEET HIS ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE
WHAT EVER THAT OBJECTIVE MIGHT BE
YET WAY BEFORE EITHER OF THOSE LINES WERE INVENTED
JESUS CAME HARD WITH THE MACK WHEN HE SAID
WOULD YOU GET ME A DRINK OF WATER..
BUT THERE IS ONE DISTINCT DIFFERENCE IN CHRIST’S RAP
AND THE RAP YOU WILL HEAR FROM MOST BROTHERS
IN MY DAY AND IN THIS DAY
WHEN A BROTHER IN THE WORLD DROPS HIS LINE DOWN
HE IS GENERALLY ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE THE ODDS
THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ---- GET HIS SWERVE ON…
BUT WHEN JESUS RAPPED OR HOLLERED AT A SISTER OR BROTHER
HIS ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE WAS TO ASSIST THAT PERSON
IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE CONDITION OF THE WORLD
IF FOLKS WHERE AS CREATIVE IN THEIR EFFORTS
TO SHARE JESUS
AS WE ARE IN OUR EFFORTS
TO GET OUR GROOVE OR OUR SWERVE ON
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE GROWTH OF THE CHRISITIAN BODY
IF YOU WERE SO HUNGRY TO BRING SOMEONE TO THE LORD
THAT YOU MEMORIZED SCRIPTURE
SUFFICIENTLY TO APPLY IT SPONTANEOUSLY
IN ANY ENVIRONMENT
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE GROWTH OF THIS CHURCH
IF EACH MEMBER WAS OUT THERE
SHARING THE GOSPEL…
THERE’D BE A MIGHTY BREAK THROUGH
NO - WE’D RATHER COMPLAIN THAN PROCLAIM
---
SO JESUS HOLLERS AT TAMARIA-
AND SHE RESPONDS TO HIM BY SAYING-
HOW CAN YOU ASK A DRINK OF ME
THEN - LIKE ANY GOOD RAPPER
JESUS THROWS OUT HIS FOLLOW UP LINE
WHICH IS DESIGNED TO REEL HER INTO
THE SUBJECT MATTER
HE SAYS
"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
OR IN OLD SCHOOL SECULAR VERNACULAR,
IF YOU KNEW WHAT WAS UP BABY
YOU’D UNDERSTAND THAT I’M THE ONE
WHOSE GOT WHAT YOU NEED
----
GOOD RAPPING TECHNIQUE
REQUIRES THE RAPPER
TO ENTICE THE RAPPEE
INTO MORE CONVERSATION
OTHERWISE THE RAPPER WILL NOT COME AWAY
WITH THE TELEPHONE NUMBER
OR ANYTHING ELSE HE SOUGHT
SO THAT NOW WE FIND TAMARIA
JUST WHERE JESUS WANTED HER TO BE
BECAUSE SHE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT IN THE HECK THE BROTHER IS TALKING ABOUT
SHE THEN TESTS THE STRENGTH OF HIS CONVERSATION BY SAYING
YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE A
A CUP TO DRAW WATER WITH
DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU’RE GREATER THAN JACOB
THE ONE WHO
GAVE US THIS WELL IN THE FIRST PLACE
THAT WAS LIKE A SISTER TODAY RESPONDING-
HOW THIS SCRUB GONNA HOLLER AT ME
LEANING OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS BEST FRIENDS RIDE--
YOU AIN’T EVEN GOT A CAR
LOOK AT HIM
HE THINKS HE’S ALL THAT
BUT HE CAN’T TOUCH MY MAN
WHO SPENT TEN DOLLARS ON ME FOR VALENTINES DAY
AND BOUGHT ME THIS CUBIC ZERCONIUM NECKLACE
FROM THE HOME SHOPPING NETWORK
BUT WAS JESUS PHASED BY HER RESPONSE
OH NO - HE COMES RIGHT BACK BY SAYING
EVERYONE WHO DRINKS OF THIS WATER (THAT IS, THE WATER IN THE WELL)
WILL THIRST AGAIN
BUT WHOEVER DRINKS THE WATER I GIVE WILL NEVER THIRST AGAIN
INDEED THE WATER I GIVE HIM
WILL BECOME IN HIM A SPRING OF WATER
WELLING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE
OR SAID ANOTHER WAY
I DON’T CARE WHO RAPPED TO YOU BEFORE
IF YOU TASTE WHAT I have
YOU WON’T HAVE TO LOOK ANY FARTHER
YOU’LL HAVE HEAVEN RIGHT HERE ON EARTH
LORD HAVE MERCY
NATE KING COLE, TEDDY PENDEGRASS, BRIAN MCKNIGHT, MYSTICAL
EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT
THIS CONVERSATION OUGHT TO GO DOWN
IN THE ANNULS OF RAPOLOGY
AND IF YOU STILL DON’T BELIEVE HIS RAP WAS STRONG
THEN LISTEN TO HOW TAMARIA RESPONDS --- --
SIR -GIVE ME THIS WATER SO THAT I WON’T GET THIRSTY
AND HAVE TO KEEP COMING HERE-
IN JUST A FEW BITS OF CONVERSATION
JESUS HAS TAKEN THIS VIRTUAL STRANGER-
HE HAS SHOWN HIS BOLDNESS
BY GOING AGAINST THE TRADITIONS OF THEIR CULTURES
HE HAS PEAKED HER INTEREST
AND HAS HER BEGGING FOR THE GIFT HE HAD TO OFFER
THAT’S A STRONG RAP RIGHT THERE
YET IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY TO TAMARIA’S RESPONSE
IT IS APPARENT SHE STILL DOESN’T FULLY COMPREHEND
EXACTLY WHAT JESUS HAS OFFERED HER
SHE SAID
TAKE ME TO THIS WATER
SO I DON’T HAVE TO KEEP RETURNING HERE
SHE THOUGHT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SOME NEW IMPROVED H20
SO HERE IS WHERE JESUS BRINGS IT HOME
HE SAYS - GO GET YOUR HUSBAND AND THEN COME BACK
NOW WHY DID HE WANT TO GO THERE
WHY DID HE HAVE TO
STEP ALL UP IN TAMARIA’S PERSONAL BUSINESS
MY THOUGHT IS
THAT IN ORDER FOR HER TO FULLY APPRECIATE
JUST WHO JESUS WAS
AND WHAT HIS MESSAGE CONCERNED
JESUS HAD TO GET HER TO THE POINT OF
UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW MUCH
SHE REALLY NEEDED WHAT HE HAD TO OFFER
HE SIMPLY SAID - GO GET YOUR HUSBAND
TO WHICH SHE RESPONDED
I HAVE NO HUSBAND
YOU’RE RIGHT HE SAID
YOU HAVE NO HUSBAND
BUT YOU HAVE HAD FIVE HUSBANDS
AND THE MAN YOU HAVE NOW
IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND
THIS PART OF THE STORY IS ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT
YET MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST
MISUNDERSTOOD TEXTS IN THE BIBLE
BECAUSE OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT
JESUS ACCURATELY DESCRIBES
THE NUMBER OF TAMARIA’S RELATIONSHIPS-
IT SAYS NOTHING ELSE ABOUT THEM
THUS WE HAVE HISTORICALLY
BEEN FREE TO DRAW OUR OWN CONCLUSIONS
ABOUT WHO TAMARIA REALLY WAS
AS A MATTER OF FACT
THE MOST COMMON INTERPRETATION
IS THAT SHE WAS - OUT THERE, LOOSE,
A PLAYER OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER
UNFLATTERING DESCRIPTIONS ONE MIGHT CONJURE UP
BUT MAYBE THAT’S NOT THE WAY IT REALLY WAS
WHO KNOWS WHY TAMARIA HAD SO MANY MEN
MAYBE HER FIRST HUSBAND HAD BEEN KILLED IN BATTLE
AND SHE HAD TO MOURN THE LOSS OFF HER FIRST LOVE
WHILE RAISING THEIR CHILD ALL ALONE
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE PAIN OF SUCH A CIRCUMSTANCE
OR MAYBE LIKE SO MANY TODAY
HER SECOND MAN TOOK OUT HIS ANXIETIES
AND INSECURITIES BY MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY
ABUSING HER
SHE COULDN’T HAVE CALLED 911
THERE WERE NO COUNSELING HOTLINES
OR WOMEN’S SHELTERS FOR HER TO FALL BACK ON
MAYBE AS A CHILD OR TEEN - LIKE SO MANY WOMEN TODAY
TAMARIA HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED
BY A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND
SO THAT EVEN BY HER THIRD HUSBAND
SHE HAD NOT LEARNED TO REALLY TRUST
OR LOVE A MAN FREELY
WE SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW
WHAT WAS BEHIND
HER PREVIOUS MARRIAGES
MAYBE HER FOURTH HUSBAND HAD BEEN CHEATING ON HER
AND HAD ANOTHER BABY WHOSE EYES LOOKED JUST LIKE HIS
BUT WHOSE MOTHER WAS NOT TAMARIA
MIGHT NOT SHE HAVE HAD A RIGHT TO GET OUT
MAYBE HER FIFTH HUSBAND
HAD BECOME ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL
AND WAS NO LONGER WILLING OR ABLE
TO HOLD A JOB AND SUPPORT THE FAMILY
AND THE MAN SHE LIVED WITH NOW
MAYBE HE WAS A MACK DADDY
WHO HAD BEEN PROMISING HER THE STARS
MAYBE HE HAD PROMISED HER MARRIAGE
BUT WAS REALLY
JUST PLAYING HER
WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON
BUT ONE THING WE CAN BE SURE OF IS
THAT OVER THE COURSE OF TAMARIA’S LIFE
SHE HAD PICKED UP SOME BAGGAGE
AND SHE WAS NOW CARRYING THE BAGS WITH HER
TAMARIA WAS A BAG LADY
BURDENED BY THE MEMORIES
OF EXPERIENCES THAT WERE WEIGHING HER DOWN
SHE CARRIED WITH HER
BAGS OF DISAPPOINTMENT
SHE CARRIED WITH HER BAGS OF PAIN
SHE CARRIED WITH HER BAGS OF CONFUSION
BAG LADY - LET GO SOME OF YOUR BAGS
MAYBE JESUS SPOKE OF TAMARIA’S MARRIAGES
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT
AS SHE JOURNEYED TO THE WELL
ON THE OUTSIDE
SHE RESEMBLED ANY OTHER SAMARITAN WOMAN-
BUT ON THE INSIDE SHE WAS PROBABLY
WRESTLING DAY AND NIGHT
ABOUT WHAT HER LIFE HAD COME TO
THE MEMORIES AND ANXIETIES
COULD HAVE BEEN HAUNTING HER
EVEN AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO SLEEP
LATE IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR --
ALL SHE HAD EVER WANTED WAS TO BE LOVED
NO - JESUS HADN’T DONE SOME GREAT THING BY RAPPING TO HER
NUMEROUS MEN HAD RAPPED TO TAMARIA
AND BECAUSE SHE SO WANTED TO BE LOVED
SHE LISTENED TO ALL OF THEM
BUT SHE HAD NEVER BEFORE MET SOMEONE LIKE JESUS
IF JESUS WERE LIKE MANY OF US
HE WOULD HAVE WRITTEN TAMARIA OFF
AS BEING A LOST CAUSE
IF HE WERE LIKE MANY OF US
HE WOULD HAVE BLAMED HER
FOR EVERYTHING SHE WENT THROUGH
IF JESUS WERE LIKE US
HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF HER
FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT
BUT HE DID NOTHING OF THE SORT
HE SAID NOTHING TO BLAME HER FOR HER PAST
HE DID NOTHING TO JUDGE HER FOR HER PAST
HE DID NOTHING TO MAKE HER FEEL GUILT ABOUT HER PAST
ALL HE DID WAS SHOW TAMARIA
THAT SHE WAS MISSING
THE STUFF THAT COULD MAKE HER WHOLE
BY MENTIONING HER HUSBANDS
JESUS WAS LETTING TAMARIA KNOW
THAT UNTIL SHE FOUND AGAPE LOVE IN GOD
SHE WOULD NEVER FIND REAL LOVE IN MEN
HOW MANY LOVES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR LIFE
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN HURT
OR FELT BROKEN
OR FELT LOST
WHO MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD
I AM THE ONE
OR THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED
*HOW MANY TEARS HAVE YOU SHED
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU TRIED
TO FIX IT ON YOUR OWN
**HOW MANY BAGS ARE YOU CARRYING NOW
WELL I KNOW SOME ONE
WHO IS WILLING TO BEAR
YOUR HEAVY BURDENS
AND REFRESH YOU WITH LIVING WATER
BUT DON’T GET CONFUSED LIKE TAMARIA DID
FOR WHEN I SPEAK OF WATER HERE
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE KIND OF WATER
THAT DIVIDED THE WATER WHEN GOD
SAID LET THERE BE A FIRMAMENT
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
A RIVER OF WATER THAT
FLOWED OUT OF EDEN TO IRRIGATE THE GARDEN
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE WATER
THAT RAINED DOWN FOR FORTY DAYS AND NIGHTS
DURING THE GREAT FLOOD OF NOAH’S DAY …
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE WATER THAT SAVED BABY MOSES
BY CARRYING HIS BASKET DOWN THE RIVER
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE KIND OF WATER
THAT DROWNED PHARAOH’S ARMY IN THE RED SEA
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE WATER THAT SPEWED FROM THE ROCK
WHEN THE HEBREWS WERE IN THE WILDERNESS
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE WATER THAT MADE NAAMANS SKIN
AS SMOOTH AS A BABIES BOTTOM
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE WATER JOHN USED
WHEN HE BAPTIZED JESUS
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE WATER JESUS TURNED INTO WHITE ZINFANDEL
AT THE WEDDING PARTY
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE WATER THAT WAS CALMED
WHEN JESUS SAID PEACE BE STILL
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE WATER JESUS WALKED ON
OR PETER SANK IN
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE WATER JESUS USED
TO WASH HIS DISCIPLES FEET
OR THE WATER PILATE USED TO WASH HIS HANDS
NOT EVEN THE WATER THAT FLOWED WITH BLOOD AT GOLGOTHA
NO - I’M TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT KIND OF WATER…
A CLEANSING WATER, A REFRESHING WATER, A HEALING WATER
DO YOU HAVE THIS EVERLASTING WATER...?
