A Curious Revelation
Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well is filled with intrigue. He begins by asking for a drink, which to the woman seems extremely forward, since Jews and Samaritans did not share the same eating or drinking vessels, such was their disdain for each other. I have to ask myself "how did this woman process Jesus' request?". Here was a woman who had been married over 5 times (Was she widowed or divorced or some combination of the two?) and she was now shacking up with someone. She seems incapable of a long term relationship with a man. Was she deeply hurt by a man at some time? many times? Did she interpret Jesus request as interest in her?
Did Jesus get his drink? I imagine that she gave Jesus the drink he asked for, while at the same time questioning him for asking. As Jesus drank the water from Jacob's well, he offered her water from his well, water that would turn into a life-giving spring. The woman seems to think that Jesus is offering a fountain of youth, and she is not yet tuned into the same channel as Jesus.
I think the woman was surprised to learn that, even though Jesus knew all about her, he still offered her the water of life. What kind of prophet offers the water of life to an outcast immoral dysfunctional Samaritan woman? What kind of Savior choose this kind of woman to bring the message of salvation to an entire village? The kind of Savior who would choose me!
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this encounter is verse 25 where Jesus tells her "I am the Messiah we are talking about." I don't know if this occurs before or after Matthew 16 where Peter says "you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God", but whatever the timing, it is incredible that Jesus reveals his messiahship to a woman of questionable character at an out of the way well-side. The theologians often refer to the "secret" of Jesus messiahship. He worked hard to keep this information secret, until the proper time. Yet, he freely tells this woman, this "nobody", who he really is. Kings and religious leaders don't get to hear this news. His disciples may not yet realize who he is, but he tells this woman, who is addicted to unhealthy relationships, who can't keep a man, "I am the Messiah".
Lord, I am amazed at your ways! Your ways are beyond finding out, your wisdom is unsearchable. Thank you for choosing the this things that are NOT to shame the things that are. Thank you for choosing the little people, the broken people, the cast offs to accomplish your purposes and glorify your name.
Joh 4:4 Now it was necessary for him to go through Samaria.
Joh 4:5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Joh 4:6 Jacob's Well was also there, and Jesus, tired out by the journey, sat down by the well. It was about twelve noon.
Joh 4:7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink."
Joh 4:8 For his disciples had gone off into town to buy food.
Joh 4:9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How can you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews do not have anything to do with Samaritans.
Joh 4:10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, 'Please give me a drink,' you would have been the one to ask him, and he would have given you living water."
Joh 4:11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you don't have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where are you going to get this living water?
Joh 4:12 You're not greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it, along with his sons and his flocks, are you?"
Joh 4:13 Jesus answered her, "Everyone who drinks this water will become thirsty again.
Joh 4:14 But whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never become thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
Joh 4:15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I won't get thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water."
Joh 4:16 He said to her, "Go and call your husband, and come back here."
Joh 4:17 The woman answered him, "I don't have a husband." Jesus said to her, "You are quite right in saying, 'I don't have a husband.'
Joh 4:18 For you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true."
Joh 4:19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet!
Joh 4:20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain. But you Jews say that the place where people should worship is in Jerusalem."
Joh 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
Joh 4:22 You don't know what you're worshiping. We know what we're worshiping, for salvation comes from the Jews.
Joh 4:23 Yet the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Indeed, the Father is looking for people like that to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
Joh 4:25 The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will tell us everything."
Joh 4:26 Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking to you."
8:00:07 AM 
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