“He (Jesus) left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.” John 4:3-6.
We have looked at encounters at a well from the Old Testament. The one we are looking at today is one of the most well-known stories in the Gospels. Sermons have been preached and books and articles have been printed, and yet there is always something we can learn from this story.
Jesus and his disciples were traveling from Judaea to Galilee and instead of taking the well-traveled route, He decided that they needed to pass through Samaria. Most Jewish people avoided this city as they were not welcomed there. Jesus sat down by the well and sent his disciples into the city to get food. He knew that there would be a woman coming for water, who would not approach a large group of men, and He needed to talk to her alone.
This woman was not popular in the village, so she came to the well when she knew that there would not be any other people there. None of them wanted to associate with her and she knew it. No doubt she was surprised when Jesus spoke to her and asked her to give Him a drink. That was unheard of for a Jewish man to even speak to a Samaritan woman.
We will not take time to go into the whole story, but please take time to read it for yourself in John 4. Try to put yourself in this woman’s position. She was an outcast, but Jesus let her know that He knew all about her, and yet He was offering her something wonderful – living water.
John 4:13-14 “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Jesus loves everyone, even the outcast, and this gift of living water is offered freely to all. He knows our past, our failings, our sins, and yet He loves us. When we accept His salvation, the past is wiped away and all is forgiven.
With joy, this woman, left her water pot, ran into the city and told them what had happened. Those who had once rejected her, listened to her message, and went to find Jesus for themselves. Her encounter at the well, brought salvation to others.
Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus, for the living water that you offer freely to each one of us. Help us to accept it and then share it with our world.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
Comments are closed.