John 4:5-26
This conversation between Jesus and an unnamed Samaritan woman was an unlikely one in lots of ways. For a start, it was unusual for a Jew to travel through Samaria, even though it was the most direct route from Jerusalem to Galilee. The Samaritans were people of mixed race, descendants of the Jews left behind in Israel after it was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC who had intermarried with the foreigners who came to live in the land (2 Kings 17:23–40). They worshipped Yahweh but recognised only the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy) as scripture and had their own temple on Mount Gerizim, rather than in Jerusalem. They were hated and despised by those of true Jewish descent. So bitter was their prejudice against the Samaritans that most Jews would take a longer way round rather than travelling through their territory. When it says in v.4 that Jesus needed to go through Samaria, it does not mean that He was compelled to go that way geographically but that the Holy Spirit was directing Him towards a divine appointment.
Another reason this conversation was unlikely was because it was uncommon for a woman to come to the well at the sixth hour (noon), which was the hottest part of the day (v.6). It is probable that she came at a time when other people were unlikely to be there, in order to avoid condemnation and gossip from the women of the town. When she saw a Jewish man sitting by the well she would have been surprised but she would not have expected him to strike up a conversation with her. The Jews considered it improper for a rabbi to speak to a strange woman in public, let alone a Samaritan one. So, Jesus’ opening words, “Give Me a drink” (v.7) would have given her a shock.
As with Nicodemus (see previous post), Jesus soon moved the conversation from natural matters to spiritual ones. He saw before Him a woman who was thirsty, not just for natural water but for the living water that He alone could give.
John 7:37-39 “…Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive…”
(See also, Psalm 36:8-9; Psalm 42:1-2; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 55:1.)
This woman came day after day to draw water from the well but it could never quench the thirst of her soul. She had been in many relationships but none had satisfied her. Jesus saw her heart and, with a word of knowledge about her life up to this point, He moved the conversation on to expose her needy condition. We do not know how this woman had reached the point where she was living with a man to whom she was not married after having five husbands. It is likely that she had experienced loss, grief, abandonment and maybe even abuse, before giving up and just moving in with anyone who would have her. Jesus did not open up this situation to condemn her but to establish heart to heart connection with her.
The conversation was becoming far too personal and threatening for her so she tried to move it into safer territory by raising a religious question that was a point of contention between Jews and Samaritans. Again Jesus went beyond the natural issue of where God was worshipped to matters of the heart. The Jewish people had reduced worship to outward forms and ceremonies rather than inward transformation. Jesus had come to deliver them from the law, so they could serve God “in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter” (Romans 7:6). Meanwhile, the Samaritans had started their own religion with no scriptural authority. They were not worshipping in truth. Jesus had come to make it possible for all men to come near to God in true and sincere worship
This woman understood little of what Jesus said to her but I believe she was drawn to His grace and she knew that she wanted the transformation He was offering. She had found the One who could rescue her and, before long, she was telling the world about Him.
It may be that you identify with this lost and needy woman. Maybe you too carry shame, guilt, pain and grief in your heart. You have an outward form of religion but you have kept the Lord at a safe distance. Be assured that God sees to the very core of you and He will not reject you. However, He will not settle for superficial relationship with you; He wants you to give Him your whole heart so that He can give you the healing and freedom you long for.
Prayer
Father God,
I recognise that fear and shame have caused me to withhold part of my heart from You. Thank You that You know me completely and You show me only love and grace, with no condemnation. I repent now of all my sin and invite You to come into the core of my being to transform and restore my soul. Help me to worship You in Spirit and truth.
Amen.
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