A Psychologist looks at Scripture
In this 8-10 minute podcast, I as a psychologist and a priest use my training and skills to examine the Gospels. I will present alternative interpretations and insights into the meaning of Scripture for men and women in the 21st century.
I can be reached at peter.dohertyomi@gmail.com.
A Psychologist looks at Scripture
John 4.5-43 Mar 8-26 From Trauma to Truth: Jesus' Radical Therapy at the Well
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Jesus reveals he's the Messiah only three times in the Gospels (here, to a Samaritan woman; and twice at his trial). He sees her wounds but also her resilience and faith. Despite pain, she's tied to her community. I wonder if these qualities made her a good candidate for Jesus to share his true identity with her.
Unlike the sceptical Pharisees, she grasps who Jesus is—and leads her village to him. In John 4:40–42, the Samaritans invite him to stay two days. Many villagers believe through his words, telling her, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; we have heard for ourselves, and we know this is truly the Savior of the world." This verse is incredible. The people are converted by the preaching alone. There is no record of miracles events – no healings or people getting fed. The people are converted by the Word alone. This is a different scenario from what Jesus usually experiences.