Happiest Thing Friday: Grace for the Outsider

Every Easter, I write about my faith here on the blog. And, every year, I feel nervous!

My life has been changed and I Peter 3:15 says: …always be prepared to answer anyone who asks you about the hope you have in Jesus; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

But it’s daunting to discuss the topic of faith when I know many (most!) of my readers don’t share my beliefs. The reason I keep coming back to my laptop keyboard to write about this topic is because I believe so deeply in the singular importance of Christ’s death on the cross. And I hope my reflections resonate regardless of where you are on your journey, and you feel a spirit of gentleness and respect.

Two years ago, I was inspired by a quote from magician and avowed atheist Penn Jillette. Last year, it was a joyful, toe-tapping song called Amen.

This year, I’m thinking about two “outsiders” with powerful stories of encounters with Jesus.

The Woman at the Well (AKA: The Hussy)

I’ve been missing our church while we’re temporarily living overseas. Church is more than just a place we go—it’s a second home and it’s my family. While in Vienna, we’ve been tuning into the livestream, and watching familiar faces and spaces fills me with a deep sense of belonging and joy. I’m part of a group of people who love Jesus; what a thrill!

Our church is currently hosting Alpha, a series designed for anyone to explore the big questions of life and faith (it’s hosted all over the world). People come and engage on existential topics, and congregants share information about their personal faith.

Recently, one of our pastors spoke about sharing “testimonies”—the unique stories of how we’ve encountered God in our own lives. To illustrate this, he shared the story of the woman at the well from John 4. I’ll try to set the scene (but here’s the relevant segment from The Chosen, if you prefer a video overview):

In those days (many centuries before indoor plumbing!), gathering water was a communal chore. Women went together in the cool of the morning for companionship, safety, and—let’s be real—to spread local gossip. But one woman went alone, in the heat of the noon sun.

She was an outsider, ostracized because of her past. Having had five previous husbands and currently living with a man who wasn’t her husband, she was a social pariah. Today, mean-spirited busybodies might call her a “hussy.”

And that’s where Jesus meets her. Not when she has it all together, but right there in her isolation. He offers her “living water,” and something shifts so profoundly that she leaves her water jar behind, runs back to the very town that rejected her, and tells everyone: “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.”

She didn’t have a polished speech. She just had an experience she couldn’t keep to herself. The most powerful part? John 4:39 reads: “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him [Jesus] because of the woman’s testimony.”

First, in a patriarchal society where women had few rights, to have a female voice responsible for pointing people to the Messiah would have been nearly unthinkable. But to have it be a woman “living in sin” who other people refused to even associate with is nothing short of miraculous!

Fast forward several thousand years…

The Slave Trader (AKA: The Wretch)

John Newton was a man who participated in the unthinkable cruelty of the Atlantic slave trade. Through a series of harrowing events (he almost died at sea in a horrific storm) and a long, soul-deep transformation, he became a pastor and passionate abolitionist.

You may not be familiar with his name, but chances are good you’re aware of his most famous hymn: Amazing Grace.

Newton went on to mentor William Wilberforce, the man who would eventually spearhead the abolition of slavery in Britain. When Wilberforce considered leaving politics to become a pastor, Newton convinced him to stay and use his influence to change the world.

Newton’s testimony, like the “woman at the well”, wasn’t about perfection. It was about being transformed and sharing the object of their hope with others. He wrote these words:

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound) That sav’d a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.

It always strikes me as sad when I hear people singing the lyrics to this song without grasping the weight of what Newton is trying to convey. He wasn’t using “wretch” as a poetic exaggeration; he knew exactly what he had been. And he was overcome by the powerful, amazing grace of God’s forgiveness and love.

The Common Thread

Why do I share this? Because Easter is the reminder that no one is too isolated or too “messy” for grace. Whether it’s a woman hiding from her neighbours at a well or a man repenting for the horrors of his past, the message is the same: You are seen, you are known, and you are invited in.

I’m still that nervous blogger who cares what you think. But like the Samaritan woman, I’ve been offered living water and I can’t keep it to myself. I’m not a lawyer defending God; I’m a witness to what He has done in my life.

As our pastor mentioned, it’s easy to fall into the trap of craving a sensational transformation. I haven’t had five husbands and I haven’t been a slave trader. Praise the Lord!!! My story may not be as dramatic, but it’s no less real.

In other words, my testimony is powerful not because my past was terrible, but because my Jesus is wonderful. Regardless of our history, we all need Him.

Everyone has a story. Mine isn’t yours. But with every fiber of my being, I hope your story involves coming face-to-face with the Jesus I love.

Wherever you are in the world, and wherever you are on your spiritual journey—wishing you a Happy Easter Weekend.