REV Jeannette Richardson led the service at Crediton Methodist Church on Sunday, March 12 and spoke about “Meeting with Jesus”.

Jeannette said that we would be thinking about epiphany experiences – a strange thing to think about during Lent.

Epiphany is usually thought of when the wise men brought gifts to the infant Jesus.

Epiphany moments are scattered throughout scripture. They are when we understand something new and relevant to God.

Jeannette wondered when we had had an epiphany moment?

Perhaps something occurred during worship or in a conversation with a friend, or perhaps God has met us in the routine of everyday life or during a quiet time set aside with God.

The disciples spent three years with Jesus and saw His earthly ministry.

On the night before He was arrested and shared with them a meal in the upper room. The bowl and towel were laid at the foot of the Lenten cross depicting Jesus washing the disciples feet.

We heard from John 4 where a woman met with Jesus in an ordinary place in the normal routine of daily life as she arrived at the well to collect water. Jesus, a Jew, surprised her by talking to her, a Samaritan, and asking her for a drink of water.

Jesus said that those who drink of the well water will still be thirsty but those who drink of the water He provides will never be thirsty as the water He provides will become the spring of eternal life.

Jesus’ questions caused her to realise that she was not condemned by this man even though He seemed to know a lot about her. She was surprised that He wanted to talk to her.

Jesus told her that God is spirit and those who worship Him will worship in spirit and truth.

She talked about the coming of the Messiah and Jesus told her He is the Messiah. This is the woman’s epiphany moment.

Asking for help is often difficult. We have spent a lot of our time learning to be independent and it seems as if asking for help is admitting failure.

Why is it so difficult for us to ask for help and who is it we are willing to ask for help?

Jesus turned to the Samaritan woman to ask for a drink. He was not too proud to show His vulnerability to someone who was despised by His faith group, on the edge of society because of her gender and marital status.

In asking her for help He was demonstrating that she was acceptable and He showed her respect. That acceptance and respect first changed her life and the lives of many of her neighbours.

Jesus invites us to a new way of life that results in all people - men and women, Samaritans and Jews, outsiders and insiders, refugees and politicians to be near to God in the ordinary things of life.

Bronwyn Nott