COME MEET THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
COME MEET THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
Author: Wade A. Bell
Scripture Reference: John 4:1-15 “Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.4 But He needed to go through Samaria.
5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”
John said of Christ, “He must go through Samaria.” Many people there desperately needed Christ just as many need Him today. Jesus knew the exact hour a sinful woman would come to draw water from Jacob’s well. We see Jesus’ human side when He became weary from His journey and was thirsty for fresh cool water.
As the Samaritan woman came to the well to draw enough for her own needs; Jesus used his thirst to instigate a conversation with her and politely ask her, “Give me a drink of water.” She was startled to have this Jewish Rabbi speak to her, a Samaritan! Not knowing that this was Jesus Christ who knew all things, her past and her future, she flippantly replied, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, A Samaritan woman? “ His answer was strange indeed. “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:10, NKJV)
“Living water?” she might have thought. “You don’t even have a vessel to draw with from this deep well. You have asked me for a drink. Where do you find such abundant water? Surely you’re not greater than our father Jacob who gave us this well, are you?” Jesus answered quietly but with authority, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” For a moment this woman, who had undoubtedly been ostracized by the community and often came to draw water when all others were away from the well, felt faith arise in her heart and she believed this man’s words. She sincerely answered, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” (John 4:14-15, NKJV)
Jesus then asked of her what she may have considered to be a strange request, “Go call your husband.” She admitted she had no husband and Jesus replied that she spoke truly: “You have had five husbands and the one you are living with now is not your husband.” When He said this her understanding of His reality began to emerge. “Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.” Jesus revealed Himself to her and she believed in her heart He was the Messiah. She became a witness to many others in the city, bringing them to meet Christ who had shared the “living water” with her.
The message goes forth to everyone. All anyone has to do to be saved from their sin is ask for living water, that is the water of life that flows from Jesus Christ. He is ready and anxious to give eternal life to all who ask. He shed His blood on Calvary and offers salvation to the world. In Zechariah 13:1 we read the wonderful news: “In that day a fountain shall be opened in the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleaness.”
The old hymn says, “There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain his day; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.” (William Cowper) This is God’s plan for everyone who will accept it.
The woman at the well first saw Jesus as a Jew. She then called Him a prophet. Finally, she recognized He was the sought after Messiah. She then began to do what every born-again child of God should do. She immediately began to tell others about the Savior. Her testimony was simple, “Come see a man who told all I ever did. Is not this the Christ?” The citizens of her village were astonished and hundreds of them came streaming across the fields to see Jesus. The despised Samaritan woman became the spokes-person that resulted in salvation for many other people. The Savior stayed two more days in this village, and man more souls came to a saving faith.
Believe on Jesus and accept Him as your Savior. Share your testimony with others. Let them know you have found the Messiah who offers everlasting life to all who believe.
Prayer: Jesus, I come to you believing you are Christ who gave your life on Calvary for all. I ask you to forgive me of all my sins. Wash me white as snow with the precious blood you shed on the cross. I believe
You arose from the grave and ascended to the Father. I accept you into my heart and will live for you as you lead and help me day by day. Thank you for saving me this day. Amen.
The narrative concerning Jesus Christ encountering the woman at the well is a powerful story of grace and forgiveness. Reverend Bell expounds on this story and brings great truth and insight.
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