Season 1, Episode 8 - I Am He

I remember how excited I was at the beginning of the final episode of Season 1 and how sad I was at the end that Season 1 was over.  The episode is centered around Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well and his admitting:  I am He.

It starts with an Old Testament background of the well built by Jacob, that in Jesus' time was in Samaritan territory. Then, we meet Photina, the Samaritan woman, we see her isolation due to her shame and the judgment of others. She is forced to draw water alone in the heat of the day and she just seems so sad and miserable.

We also see Jesus making the radical move to dine at Matthew’s house. The Pharisees are appalled, questioning why Jesus would eat with sinners. Jesus’ response? “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Again, it questions the idea of who belongs in God’s kingdom. It’s easy to think faith is for the already “good,” but Jesus flips this upside down. He seeks out the broken, the despised, the ones who know they need Him.

Meanwhile, we see Simon Peter and Andrew wrestling with their evolving faith. Simon is still adjusting to Matthew’s presence, struggling with his own preconceived notions of who is worthy. But following Jesus means leaving behind old prejudices and embracing the unexpected.

A significant thread in this episode is the cost of discipleship. I see the gain for Matthew, but the fact that I can sympathize with Nicodemus and what he'd be leaving tells me I've got issues in how willing I am to follow Christ completely and what I'm holding on to. The gain for Matthew is lost on the Roman centurion, Gaius, who has been previous episodes but really becomes more of a figure in this one.  Up to now, he's mostly been giving Matthew a hard time as his, for lack of a better description, body guard at the tax shack. But we begin to realize he cares about Matthew even though he doesn't understand him and what makes him tick. 

There is also a sweet segment where Jesus speaks to Simon's wife, Eden, recognizing that Simon's sacrifices are also hers and that she has a role to play, although it will not be easy for her. She notes that is not their people's way. But, Jesus tells her, he is going to lift one of her burdens (not exactly those words) and this leads to the healing of her mother. You can start counting how many times I say this, I love Jonathan Roumie's portrayal of Jesus, especially in scenes where he portrays a Jesus with a great sense of humor! 

As Jesus and His followers set out for a journey, one of the most gut-wrenching moments is Nicodemus’ decision not to join them and Jesus quietly showing his sadness at the decision. We can see that Nicodemus wants to follow Jesus, but he ultimately chooses to stay behind. The scene where he watches Jesus from a distance, weeping as he realizes what he is giving up had me weeping with him (okay, I know ... nothing new there). He had a chance to step into something greater, but fear and status held him back.

Nicodemus’ story is a reminder that the call of Jesus demands something from us. It’s about faith, but faith without works is dead (as James reminds us in James 1). Nicodemus is moved by Jesus but ultimately cannot bring himself to leave his position, his comfort, and his life to follow Him. Again, I'm back to wondering how often pull that thread.

After a long journey into Samaria, the others go look for food and accommodations and Jesus goes to the well, occupied at midday only by Photina drawing water when the other women of the town would not be there. Jesus does what no respectable Jewish man of His time would do ... talks to her openly. He engages her in deep theological conversation and reveals her past without condemnation.

Even though I know the story and am waiting for it, when Jesus tells her, “I am He,” I was so excited. It's on! The transformation of the Samaritan woman is immediate. She rushes back to her village, proclaiming, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did.” The episode sort of makes a bit of a joke about her telling it over and over again in various ways, but it brings home that she isn't unhappy that Jesus knows and declares her past, but that she has met The Messiah. Amen!