Jesus and the Samaritan Woman- John 4:1-42

“But, those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them giving them eternal life.” Jesus

Today, we find Jesus on the move. The Pharisees had heard about his disciples baptizing people and began to take a special interest in Jesus and he knew it was time to go. He would come back eventually and eventually, that path would lead him to the cross. He knew that and accepted that, but now was not the time for that. His time had not yet come.

So, he and the disciples traveled through Samaria. Jesus was tired and thirsty and rested by a well, while the disciples went into the village to buy some food. I love this human glimpse of Jesus. He was tired and thirsty from his long walk. The Son of God was tired and thirsty. Don’t we all get tired? Jesus understands. He’s been there.

It was around noon and a woman comes out alone to draw some water. She had several strikes against her.  First of all, she was a Samaritan and Jews did not associate with the Samaritans. They were considered unclean. Secondly, she was a woman. Jewish men did not talk to women who were alone. Finally, she was an outcast of her own people, coming to the well by herself and not with other women. She had been married five times and was now living with a man she wasn’t even married to. Scandalous!

But, here the Messiah was asking her for a drink of water. She wants to know why he would even ask her for a drink of water. A Jew would become ceremonially unclean if he used a drinking vessel handled by a Samaritan, because the Samaritans were considered unclean. Jesus again, shows us that he sees people for who they are, not where they are from. He also shows us that he is quite comfortable talking with women, something completely unacceptable until this point.

Jesus tells her he has a kind of water to offer her that will keep her from ever being thirsty again and will give her eternal life. Her response was:  “Where do I get some?” I feel the same way as she did when I read this. It sounds so inviting doesn’t it?

Jesus tells her to go and get her husband. She tells him the truth. She doesn’t have one. He tells her that he already knows this and goes on to say that she has had five husbands and isn’t even married to the one she is living with. The woman is stunned.

Confession works the same way with us. Jesus already knows what we have done before we confess, so why is it so hard to confess? We know we will be forgiven. Why do we hesitate?

She asks Jesus why the Jews insisted that Jerusalem was the only place to worship. Jesus tells her that the time is coming when the place of worship will not matter. The worship will be about the person worshiping in Spirit and truth, not about the place.

She tells him she knows a Messiah is coming and then he says the magic words. “I am the Messiah.” NLT

The disciples return and are shocked to find Jesus talking to the woman, but don’t have the nerve to ask him why. They have to know by now, that everyday with Jesus is a wild ride. He’s performed miracles and driven unscrupulous people from the temple. Who knew what he would do next?

The woman ran into town and told the other Samaritans. She must have been believable because many people followed her to the well. Here is a great example of Jesus’ ability to change us.

The Samaritans ask him to stay with them and he stayed for two days and many believed. We don’t get the disciples’ reaction to them staying in Samaria, but that had to have been shocking to them too. That’s where today’s scripture ends.

What do you think about Jesus and the Samaritan woman?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂