When Jesus Gets Personal

Author: Rev. Daniel Johnson
April 16, 2026

Hello Church Family,

This past Sunday in John 4, one moment really stayed with me—the moment when Jesus gets personal with the Samaritan woman… and she changes the subject. Jesus puts His finger right on her life—her past, her relationships, the very thing she’s been avoiding—and instead of leaning in, she pivots. She starts talking theology, worship locations, religious debate. It sounds spiritual, but it’s actually deflection. Notice the timing—she brings up theology at the exact moment Jesus brings up her life.

And if I’m honest, I see that in my own life more than I’d like to admit. There have been moments where I can feel God pressing on something specific—an attitude, a conversation I need to have, something I need to deal with—and instead of going there, I stay busy. I read more, think more, “process” more. It all looks productive, even spiritual, but underneath it I’m just avoiding the thing God is actually trying to address.

And I think a lot of us do that. God gets close and suddenly we get distracted. We ask more questions, stay in our heads, talk about church, theology, other people—anything to keep the conversation from getting too personal. Sometimes it’s not even big things—we’ll scroll, check email, start another task, or even open our Bible to a different passage… anything to avoid the exact thing God is pressing on. Because as long as it stays abstract, we don’t have to get honest. That’s what really stood out to me: it’s possible to talk about God… while avoiding God.

But what I love about Jesus in this passage is that He doesn’t back off. He doesn’t follow her distraction. He keeps moving toward her heart, because He’s not after a better conversation—He’s after real surrender. And here’s the grace in it: He exposes her, not to shame her, but to heal her. He tells her the truth about her life… and doesn’t withdraw from her.

And that’s why she doesn’t run from Him—she runs back to town changed.
And the good news is—you don’t have to keep avoiding it.

So here’s the question I’ve been sitting with: where do you change the subject when God gets close? Because that place—the one you keep avoiding—might be the exact place Jesus wants to meet you. 

The place you keep deflecting… might be the place God is inviting you to be free.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Daniel

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