Now he had to go through Samaria. (John 4:4 NIV, 9-16-12)

Here’s the thing. According to any physical map, Jesus didn’t “have to” to go through Samaria. He could have crossed the Jordan and gone up the other way. It was a much less challenging trip, at least from ritual purity and friendliness-along-the-way perspectives.

But not from the perspective of ministry. It was in many ways the more challenging path, but the ministry was necessary. Think about all the things we wouldn’t know if Jesus hadn’t made the trip and John hadn’t recorded it. About evangelism. About loving people who are different. Even about worship. (See verse 24.)

So Jesus had to go through Samaria. And sometimes we have to go through things–all the way through–to learn what we need to learn and become who we need to become.

[Father, help us through this path toward becoming the persons and the church you want us to become.]