I come from a family of 9. I was married to a woman who bore me three children. To all these people, I am either a younger brother, an older brother, or former husband, and dad. A few of these people mentioned above know that I am also an Author, Playwright, Poet, and Publisher. None may even recognize me as an inventor of Board Games.
In my workaday life, I am all of these things. In 2019, I wrote a Play, and assembled a crew of 52 people to present “King Jaja of Opobo Spectacular.” None of my siblings was in attendance, and it was not because they do not love me. To them, I am just a relative. Yet, King Jaja has been one of my proudest moments in life. I had joined the pantheon of the Playwrights—those people whom we all admire from a distant place. My work, just as Wole Soyinka’s; just as Shakespeare’s; just as Hemingway’s; just as Charles Dickens’ is now enshrined in the Library of the United States Congress—but which of my relatives is to know that?
This is the simple explanation to the quote by Jesus when he said: “A prophet is never without honor except in his own country, and among his own people.”
Knowing this, he chose his steps deliberately, and picked the people he was going to interact with—outsiders. In his immediate circle, perhaps, only his father, Joseph, and his mother, Mary, knew who he really was, but there was another man. His name was Simeon, an old man whom the Bible describes as “just and devout.” He had seen the scriptures that predicted the coming of the Messiah. He did not only see it, he also believed it. He did not just believe, he took practical steps to meditate on that spiritual revelation. He did not stop there either. He fasted and prayed, and beseeched the God of all creation to preserve his life long enough for him to witness the birth of the Messiah.
Oh my God!!!!
Three witnesses were required to affirm the birth of the Christ—-Joseph, Mary and old Simeon.
(Luke 2: 25-35).
Does the Bible not say: “in the mouths of two or three witnesses—that the word of God shall be established?” (2 Corinthians 13:1).
Here, we go.
As Jesus made progress with his ministry—his own people only knew him, and recognized him as the son of the carpenter. No more. Yet, in their midst, dwelt a Giant without peer; a colossus of no mean order; the Savior of the World; King of Glory; Eternal father; the Hiscoboboshanda; Alpha, and Omega; the First and the Last; the Beginning of all creation.
Don’t knock on yourself, dear reader. It’s so easy for most of us to miss the greatness in the people around us. It’s not your fault. It’s human nature. We did not create ourselves.
It was this knowledge that caused Jesus to set out on a journey to a far place—and the Bible says—“he must needs go through Samaria.”Now, let me put this in context. Historically, for some reason in the distant past, the Samaritans and the Jews had no relations even though they were neighbors. They did not stop there. Each despised the other. They did not stop there either. Each avoided the other to the extent that even though the shortest distance for Jews to travel to other towns would have been in a straight line through Samaria, instead, they would rather travel in a circle, just to avoid their neighbors. Again, they did not stop there. In other to avoid any further confusion or problems, even though the two peoples both worshipped Yawheh, the Samaritans established their own temple on Mount Gerizim whilst the Jews had their temple upon Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
Do you now see that mankind has been on a journey of foolishness for a long time?
As our people say: “No be today e start.”
Knowing this therefore, Jesus had made an appointment from the beginning of time, long before he was “born” to Joseph, and Mary to meet with someone who was considered a “scum” and “worthless” among her own people that no one would even be seen going with her to the Well to draw water.
How terrible, and judgmental humans can be!
It was in this context that Jesus sent his disciples ahead so that he could interact with the woman at the Well. “Give me water to drink,” Jesus said to the woman. She replied: “You are a Jew. I am a Samaritan. We should not be talking to each other in the first place. Besides, you have nothing to draw water with.”
There, it is.
What happens next? They go into a long conversation, and Jesus reveals himself to her as Messiah. She was the first person to whom he revealed this eternal truth. What she does next with this revelation is the reason we still talk about her, 2,000 years hence. “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did,” she says to the people of her city. They came. They saw, and they asked Jesus to stay for two more days so that he could teach them.
Jesus obliged them.
Because of one “worthless woman who had been married 5 times already,” an entire city gained eternal life.
As you go about your week, remember this story, and strive never to judge a book by its cover.
Jesus said to his listeners: Have you not heard the saying: “The stone that was rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone? It is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Mark 12: 10-11.
Michael O. Ovienmhada.
