John 4:1-45 "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." Just outside the small town of Sychar, whose name means, "town of the tomb" was the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Later, Joseph was buried there. One hundred yards away from Joseph's tomb was Jacob's well.
Jacob built his well never knowing the significance the story of it would have on future generations. The depth of the well was over one hundred feet and it's water quenched the thirst of many weary souls. Yet, no visiter was more significant than the one who came to the well on the same day as an outcasted Samaritan woman. He was weary after walking all day long and when he came to the well, he stopped and rested on its edge. After some time this Jewish man saw a Samaritan woman coming with a jar to draw water. In those days Jews and Samaritans did not deal hospitably with each other, but this Jewish man did not adhere to the bias of the people. Breaking a cultural rule, he spoke to the woman (Jewish men were not to speak to a woman in public and especially were to avoid women with a bad reputation such as she had.) He said to her, "Give me a drink." This interaction startled her. How is it that this Jewish man would speak to her, seeking a favor from her? Who was this man? He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." She questioned him. How can you give water when you have nothing to draw water with? Besides, this well is very deep. "Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." The man responded, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water," she responded. He then confounded her by telling her to "Go, call your husband, and come here." Wondering why he would say that she responded, "I have no husband," to which he replied, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'' for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." She may have felt shame at that moment as he uncovered the truth. She knew there was no way this stranger could know these things about her without having some sort of supernatural ability? Probing him she said, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet." He went on to explain to her that someday those who truly perceived would know when the Messiah had come and would worship Him in spirit and in truth. The woman wanted to show her agreement said, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." He said to her, "I who speak to you am he." The woman was shaken. She was speaking to the long-awaited Savior...even more so, He was speaking to her! She left her jar at the well and hurried into town. Not wasting time, she told everyone she could that, Jesus Christ, the Messiah had come and that He knew everything about her. He knew she was a sinner and despite that, he regarded her and forgave her. This is the sign of a true believer; one who the people do not regard, yet who God chooses to become one of His own and who will leave everything behind to tell others about Him.
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AuthorJennifer Szczyrbak is an artist, a daughter, a wife and a mom who is learning, growing and being transformed day by day by the God of the universe who knows her better than she knows herself. Archives
December 2019
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