In the summer of 2024, I had the privilege of taking my wife and three kids to Malaysia. While my wife has been there before, it was the first time for my kids. Once we landed, seeing their expressions of wonder and intrigue certainly warmed my heart. Since I was born and raised in Malaysia, it was a joy to introduce them to new environments, people, traditions, languages, and religions. Their inquisitiveness made the trip extremely fulfilling as I was able to share stories whenever they met my family members or friends of diHerent races and religion.

However, on the flight back to the US, I found myself feeling extremely helpless and burdened at the same time. And for the first time, I encountered this feeling of what I would assume missionaries feel when they enter a new country, culture, and language. Since I had become a Christian in America, I never learned the gospel in a language that I used growing up. I was only ever familiar with sharing the gospel in English. Not in Malay nor in the different dialects of Chinese that I spoke in Malaysia. So, while I was able to have a good interaction with my family and friends, I was unable to share the gospel with them because I did not have the vocabulary to do so. While I was able to crossover into the culture, I was unable to turn conversations into spiritual discussions. While I had a relationship with these people, I did not have the ability to tell them about a relationship with Christ. While I saw their deep need for salvation, I couldn’t offer them Jesus as their Savior. All because I had the huge obstacle of vocabulary. I couldn’t fully crossover.

In John 4, we are given an example of when Jesus didn’t have any trouble making the crossover. He encountered a person of a diHerent gender, race, culture, and religion. John gives us the commentary in verse 9 that Jews and Samaritan didn’t interact in that society. It was significant for Jesus to intentionally engage in conversation with this woman at the well. He began by asking her for water, while telling her that He is the living water. He engaged with her history, while acknowledging that He perceived the mess of her life. He engaged with her religion, while revealing Himself as the true Messiah. Jesus crossed over gender, racial, cultural, and religious boundaries to intentionally offer God’s saving grace. This interaction resulted in the salvation of many Samaritans. Jesus made a human crossover so that the woman and the rest of the Samaritans could make the ultimate crossover from death to life!

Through Jesus’ example, we learn of His desire for us to make the crossovers in our lives so that we can share the gospel with unbelievers. It is no easy task for us as we would just as soon stay in our comfort zone, get in a routine, and avoid the mess of an unbeliever’s life.

Perhaps this week, we can all be sensitive to the opportunities put in front of us to make crossovers. Have the courage to cross over into the mess of a lost person’s life so that you can tell them about the One who is able to redeem that mess. Make the effort to cross the street to say “hello” to a neighbor, so that you can have the chance to speak God’s truth in love. Aim to love like Jesus as you cross over your prejudices to engage someone very different from you so that you can share His grace with them. John 4:35 instructs us to lift up our eyes and see that the fields are white unto harvest. Let us pray that the Lord helps us see the harvest daily. May the gospel never stop with us!