What were the great revivals in the history of the church? This year as we prepared for revival, I read books about awakenings. As a college student, I learned about the first and second Great Awakenings in the United States. What about great revivals in the scriptures? I studied these as well. The story of the woman at the well qualifies. Let’s see what happened.
Steve Stroope once articulated in an excellent sermon that the woman at the well was invisible to the disciples. They must have passed her on the way into the city to find food. When Jesus sat down at the well, he saw her and spoke to her. Thus began a conversation in which he told her about her life. She had come to the well for water, but left her water jar behind to go and get her friends. Doesn’t this story sound like Mary Oliver’s instructions for living a life? The woman paid attention, was astonished, and talked about it. Her friends came with her to meet Jesus. They, too, paid attention, were astonished, and talked about it. A number of the people in that village came to know Jesus through the witness of the woman and their own encounter with him.
This is the pattern of a witness. A witness has to pay attention to what they see. Taking note of what happens, witnesses of wonderful moments are astonished. The witnesses must tell what they have seen. Here is a pattern for our engagement with our community. In Advent season, we remember that Jesus is always coming to us throughout the day. We pay attention to what he is doing. Then we are astonished at the astonishing Jesus. Finally, we tell others about it. This is our path forward as the people of God. Jesus said to his disciples in the early church, “After the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."
The awakening we await begins today. Pay attention to Jesus. What is he doing among us? If we understood what God is doing, we would surely be so astonished that we would tell others about it. A great revival is waiting to happen. Hockey player Wayne Gretzky once said, “I miss 100% of the shots I do not take.” Today, tell somebody about what Jesus has done for you. If they come to believe in him for themselves, they will find eternal life.
