John 4:9
The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
Anyone Thirsty?
Jesus broke the mold when it came to shattering stereotypes. Jewish men in that day never talked with women in public. They never associated with women of ill repute and most certainly not a Samaritan woman with such a sordid background, but Jesus asked a question as a way to introduce the living water of eternal life, which flowed from Him (John 4:13-14). This woman didn’t get it. She thought that there might have been another source of fresh water that would be much easier to retrieve than this deep well, which took a lot of hard work. It wasn’t until Jesus told her about her past and present to indicate that He was God because He knew all about her. Jesus tried telling her that if she only knew of which water He spoke, a living water, she would gladly drink it (John 4:10).
The Disciples’ Surprise
When the disciples returned, they were shocked that Jesus was not only speaking to a woman but also a Samaritan woman, and getting water in the heat of the day was obvious to them. Only women who were scorned by society and certainly the other women would come and get water during the hottest part of the day. Most fetched water during the cool of the morning and evening but never during the noon day.
The Woman’s Witness
After the woman at the well realized who Jesus was, she ran back to her village and told everyone about Whom she had just seen, and many in that village believed on Jesus Christ after that (John 4:39). She finally acknowledged that the Savior of the world was there (John 4:42), something that even the scripturally studied religious leaders didn’t know or more likely willingly rejected. This shows that no one necessarily needs training in evangelizing the lost. Having training might help, yes, but the fact is that God can use the most unlikely of people, the least of people in the world’s eyes, to bring people to saving faith in Jesus Christ. That includes you, too. All you need is zeal for the Savior and to help rescue those who will perish apart from knowing Christ. It is just that simple. The gospel is marvelously simple, yet simply marvelous.
A Closing Prayer
Righteous God, thank You for this wonderful example of a woman whom most of the village and the Jewish nation despised to bring others to Christ and for showing me that I can do what this Samaritan woman did: go and tell the whole village that I have found the Savior of the world, and His name is Jesus Christ. It is in His most precious name I pray.
Amen
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