Who Did Jesus Meet At The Well

The Woman at the Well: It’s Significance and What We Can Learn

As recorded in John 4:4-30 (ESV), Jesus, who is on his journey to Galilee, comes face to face with a woman at a well. This narrative, which is also known as “Jesus and the Samaritan woman,” captures the imaginations of those who read the Gospels. What, though, is the importance of the woman at the watering hole? What lessons can we take away from this historic meeting? What is the relevance of the narrative of the woman at the well in the Bible? The interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman is not a chance meeting between two strangers.

The woman at the well, who is desperate for a fulfilling life and eternal grace, is permanently changed by Jesus’ love for her and his sacrifice for her.

John 4:4-9, The Samaritan Woman

And he had to go through Samaria on his way there. As a result, he traveled to a village in Samaria known as Sychar, which was close to the farm that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was nearby, and so Jesus, exhausted from his long trek, was reclining at the well, resting his feet. It was around six o’clock at the time. A lady from Samaria came to the well to fetch water. “Please give me a drink,” Jesus instructed her. The reason for this was that his followers had gone into the city to get food.) When the Samaritan woman asked him how he got a drink from her, he responded with, “How is it that you, a Jew, question me, a lady of Samaria?” (Because Jews do not have business ties with Samaritans.) It’s no surprise that Jesus took a break by the well after journeying for the whole of the day in the scorching heat of the day.

  1. It was surprised to see a lady there in the middle of the day, given how hot it was.
  2. We might infer from this that the lady at the well was an outcast, if not loathed, by the other ladies in town, which confirms our suspicion.
  3. I’m sure you’ve heard the story of the good Samaritan.
  4. The Samaritan, not the Jewish leader who passed by, not the priest, was the one who struck up a conversation.
  5. That same Samaritan woman was the last person any Jew would want to engage in conversation with.
  6. I find it encouraging that Jesus loves the most unlovable individuals and that He chose to tell His story through the most unlikely personalities.

Verses 10-15, Living Water

She requested for a drink, and Jesus said, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have provided you with live water.” We know that this live water is the salvation that Jesus provides for us because He states that it is a gift from God in His teachings. There is little doubt that the woman at the well picked up on this, and I’m sure she wondered whether there was more to Jesus, and perhaps even more to her own existence.

  1. Whatever you ask in my name, I will accomplish so that the Father’s glory may be revealed through the Son’s sacrifice.
  2. ESV translation of John 14:13-14 The Samaritan lady, on the other hand, had no idea who Jesus was at the time.
  3. “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep,” the woman explained to him.
  4. Are you more powerful than our ancestor Jacob?
  5. Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never become thirsty again, replied Jesus to her.
  6. After making the connection, Jesus gets right to the point, declaring that even the prophets and people of the old covenant are unable to complete or satisfy us in our needs.

When Jesus mentions the new covenant, he is alluding to the one in which we may put our confidence in Him and be entirely pleased, both in eternity and on this planet.

Verses 16-20 “Go, Call Your Husband”

“Go, summon your husband, and come here,” Jesus instructed her to do. “I don’t have a spouse,” the woman said to him. “You are correct in claiming that you have no husband; because you have had five husbands, and the one you are currently with is not your husband,” Jesus said to her. “Everything you’ve mentioned is correct.” Wow, he brought up the most uncomfortable subject matter possible. In the absence of any prior awareness of Jesus’ identity, it appears that Jesus is teasing her or adopting an accusing tone.

  • It appears like Jesus is attempting to reach her heart, to the core of what she requires, which is love and forgiveness.
  • He brought this up for a lot of reasons, to be honest.
  • He is not some stalker who has been lurking behind a bush watching her life unfold; rather, He is the Messiah, the Son of God, who has come to save the world.
  • Second, Jesus anticipated that when He presented her with the promise of God, the promise that she would be able to get this living water, the first thing she would think about was how all of her sins prohibit her from receiving it.
  • Consider what might have happened if Jesus had chosen to disregard this aspect of her tale and instead responded with grace.
  • He was greeted by a woman who remarked, ‘Sir, I believe you to be a prophet.’ Despite the fact that our forefathers worshipped on this mountain, you claim that Jerusalem is the proper location for people to worship.
  • And, since God is the one who can answer her questions via Jesus, why wouldn’t she approach Him with whatever questions she could have about anything?
  • The fact that she didn’t know what to make of this God she didn’t know yet, this God she might have wanted to worship but didn’t know how to do, made me think she was a little perplexed.

Think about it: she was already detested in her own town; now image travelling to a country where no one welcomed you because of your ethnicity and attempting to practice your religion freely. It appeared as though she couldn’t catch a break. With the exception of Jesus, who did accept her.

Verses 21-26, Worship in Truth and Spirit

Despite the fact that she shifted the subject, Jesus does not become enraged or condemn the woman at the well; instead, He responds to her query with the same fervor as he did in his earlier words. “Woman, trust me when I say that the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father,” Jesus stated. You worship what you do not understand, but we worship what we understand, since salvation comes from the Jews. However, the hour is approaching, and it is already here, when real worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him in this manner.

  • Because of Jesus, we no longer need to gather in a certain location to worship.
  • This is fantastic news for the Samaritan woman, who would have otherwise been excluded from the redemptive drama.
  • Now, worship does not have to be restricted to a tabernacle or temple.
  • We have the Holy Spirit, and as a result, we are able to feel the love of the Father without having to follow all of the regulations set down in the Old Testament.
  • Why not incorporate spirit and peace?
  • Returning to the sense of shame or guilt that the Samaritan lady was likely experiencing, Jesus saw that the situation had not yet been resolved.
  • She was under no need to lie in order to conceal her guilt and humiliation.
  • Nonetheless, Mary is unwilling to believe this until Jesus explicitly states that He is, in fact, the Messiah.
  • “When he comes, he will tell us everything,” she says.
  • Even now, I can imagine the chills that the Samaritan woman was probably experiencing.
  • There are just a few instances in which Jesus explicitly declares who He is throughout the gospels.

Verses 27-30, “Can This Be the Christ?”

Just as he was about to go, his followers returned. They were all taken aback by the fact that he was conversing with a woman, but no one asked, “What are you looking for?” Alternatively, “What are you talking about with her?” And so she went away from the well, into town, and announced to the people, “Come see a guy who told me all that I ever done. “Does this look like the Christ?” They had driven out of town and were on their way to him. The disciples were completely perplexed by what Jesus was doing.

  1. The Samaritan lady, on the other hand, didn’t need to wait long because she recognized the stirrings of love, grace, and adoration that were boiling up in her heart.
  2. What a surreal sensation it was.
  3. A tale on a paper isn’t all that Jesus is, and a weak Hebrew promise isn’t all that Jesus is, either.
  4. Jesus is here, and He is very close to us.
  5. The woman at the well realized, just as you do now, that there was more to it than meets the eye.

Moreover, she was not interested in finding out how nice Jesus is after she reached paradise. You don’t have to wait until you get to paradise to realize how wonderful Jesus is. And you are under no obligation to wait to tell people about Him.

Many Samaritans Believe

Verses 39-42 describe how the woman at the well returns to Jesus with her community, demonstrating how marvelous Jesus is and encouraging them to get into a relationship with Him. Because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever done,” a large number of Samaritans from that town came to believe in Jesus. As a result, when the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to remain with them for two days, which he did. And because of his message, many more people came to believe. They explained to the lady, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe; we have heard for ourselves, and we are certain that he is, in fact, the Messiah, the Savior of the world.” Even though it was the woman’s story that brought her town to Jesus, ultimately it was Jesus’ love that transformed them and convinced them that He was and continues to be the Savior of the World.

Forever Changed

The experience of meeting Jesus and being transformed by His love is not something we can keep to ourselves. We may share it with others. We will be transformed for the rest of our lives. He will pour down living water into our hearts via the power of His Holy Spirit, causing His kindness to overflow in us as we live out His promises. It was His promise to the Jews that brought redemption, and He continued to extend that promise to the Samaritan lady and to us as a result. In order to enter the temple, we don’t have to wait until after the next sacrifice; we don’t have to wait until after the next sacrifice in order to come into His presence and realize how genuinely good He is.

We should be thankful for Jesus’ gift of fulfilling love, grace, and presence, and we should worship Him in the spirit and the truth as a result of his gift to us.

What Was the Significance of the Woman at the Well?

While her identity is never revealed, her interaction with Jesus is the longest of any other human in the Gospel of John, lasting more than two hours. She not only experiences a holy encounter with Christ, but she also obtains everlasting redemption, despite the fact that she represents the lowest of the low — a female in a culture where women are both demeaned and neglected, a race long hated by Jews, and living in humiliation as a social outcast — In addition, her testimony persuades a whole village to believe in her.

Who Was the Woman at the Well?

It is one of the most famous stories in the Bible, and the narrative of the woman at the well is no exception. The story is told in John 4:1-42, and it shows how Jesus, while going through Samaria on his route to Galilee, stopped at a well in the village of Sychar to rest. At that location, about midday, while His followers were out shopping for lunch, He came face to face with a Samaritan lady who was come to get water from the well. He invited her for a drink, and their conversation carried off from there, ultimately leading to her redemption and the salvation of many others from her village.

The Samaritan woman’s identity was never disclosed, but we know she was female and that she belonged to a race with which Jews could not interact, according to Scripture.

Because we understand the cultural and historical practices of that time period, we also know that women often drew water together in the morning, and that it was a social event.

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We also know she had a strong sense of curiosity.

She felt comfortable enough with Jesus to not only converse with Him, but also to ask Him direct questions. His responses to those inquiries, as well as the subsequent discourse, disclose a great lot more about him and the story, giving it even greater meaning.

What Did the Woman at the Well Ask Jesus?

In the absence of awareness of intonation, tone, facial expressions, or any other characterizations, her queries read as direct and incisive. When Jesus approached her and asked for a drink, she responded with a series of questions: “How can you ask me for a drink?” (v. 9) Can you tell me where you can obtain this life water? What makes you think your father Jacob, who provided us with the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and animals, is more important than you think. (12th verse) It was equally as striking — and as startling — that his replies were.

14).

What Happened During Jesus’ Talk with the Woman at the Well?

Following Jesus’ request for a drink, the woman at the well inquired as to how Jesus could ask such a thing of her, given that she was a Samaritan and Jesus was plainly a Jewish leader. When he was asked for a drink, he responded by saying, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is who asks you for a drink,” he said, “you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (v. 10). She pointed out that Jesus did not have a cup, and then inquired about the so-called living water, as well as whether or not he was greater than Jacob, among other things.

  • As a descendant of Abraham and Isaac, Jacob was the traditional ancestor of the people of Israel, and it is possible that he founded the town in addition to providing the well where they were able to communicate with one another.
  • However, Jesus’ clearly stated and genuine response, which went into detail about the living water He could offer, encouraged her to approach Him and beg for it.
  • 18).
  • 20).
  • However, a time is coming, and it has already arrived, when real worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, because they are the sort of worshipers the Father wishes to be worshipped.

21-24). Then Jesus proclaimed something that had hitherto been kept secret in many circles: that He is the Messiah (v. 26). After that, his buddies returned and the woman bolted, leaving her water jar behind and exclaiming, “Come and see!” (29).

What Happened After Their Talk?

After Jesus spoke with the woman at the well, she looked to be taken aback by the fact that Jesus was aware of such intimate details about her. “He told me everything I had ever done,” she said to the other Samaritans (v. 39). They contacted Jesus, who stayed in their town for two days to meet with them and answer their questions. In response to what Jesus shared with them, “a large number of people became Christians” (v. 41). Her testimony was essential in bringing them to salvation.

What can we learn from the Woman at the Well?

There are five major reasons why this narrative is important. First and foremost, it demonstrates Jesus’ love for the entire world. Jesus’ compassion for all people, rather than just a few, is demonstrated by the fact that the woman at the well was of such low social standing — in terms of gender, ethnicity, and marital status — and yet they spoke so directly, almost as equal conversational partners. Jesus embraces everyone, just as we witness in other passages, such as when He welcomes children (Luke 18:15-17) or heals the demon-possessed daughter of a Canaanite mother (Matthew 15:21-28).

  1. Second, it serves as a reminder that only Jesus can provide salvation.
  2. This water is not like ordinary water; rather, it is a gift from God Almighty, and it will stay forever.
  3. When the woman realized what she had seen, she instantly raced off to tell her friends.
  4. According to Scripture, “because of the woman’s testimony, many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him” (v.
  5. Fourth, it emphasizes the fact that Jesus is the Messiah.
  6. After all, as the Samaritans stated in their response to the woman at the conclusion of their narrative, “we know that this guy truly is The Savior of the World” (v.
  7. It also exposes even more how Jesus was rejected by His own people in the fifth chapter of John.

The story of the woman at the well occurs immediately after Jesus’ interaction with the PhariseeNicodemus in John 3—a man of a different race and social status than her.

According to Jesus, Nicodemus was Israel’s instructor, and “do you not grasp these things?” Jesus asked Nicodemus.

However, we are told that this village of so-called adversaries was taken in by surprise.

And, perhaps most importantly, not only does Jesus accept her, but He also accepts us.

Image courtesy of iStock/Getty Images Plus/ukjent.com She is also an award-winning Christian author, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach.

She also serves as the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, which is the denomination’s oldest publication.

She also does a weeklyYouTubedevotional on her channel. You may also find her on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and others. She’s also written a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices for When You’re Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, which you can get here.

See How Jesus Shocked the Woman at the Well With His Love

There are many Christians who can offer a succinct explanation of the tale of the woman at the well, which is one of the best-known stories in the Bible. According to the plot summary, the narrative is about ethnic discrimination and a lady who is rejected by her community. Upon closer inspection though, it becomes clear that it tells a great deal about Jesus’ nature. Above all, the tale, which unfolds in John 4:1-40, implies that Jesus is a loving and accepting God, and that we should strive to emulate his behavior and attitude.

Question for Reflection

Humans have a natural predisposition to criticize others based on preconceptions, traditions, or prejudices, among other things. Jesus respects everyone as unique individuals, welcoming them with love and compassion and treating them as such. Do you consider certain people to be “lost causes,” or do you consider them to be worthwhile in their own right, deserving of hearing the good news of the gospel?

Summary of the Story of the Woman at the Well

The tale begins as Jesus and his followers are on their way from Jerusalem in the south to Galilee in the north when the story is set in motion. They choose the shortest path possible, which takes them throughSamaria, in order to reduce travel time. Despite being exhausted and thirsty, Jesus waited by Jacob’s well while his followers went to the nearby settlement of Sychar to get food. As the sun was setting, it became quite hot, and a woman who had been waiting for water for hours arrived to take it from the well at this inconvenient hour.

  1. First and foremost, he addressed her as a woman despite the fact that she was a woman.
  2. Jews and Samaritans had been at odds with one another for millennia.
  3. The lady at the well was taken aback by Jesus’ actions.
  4. Jesus responded by using the phrase living water to allude to eternal life, the gift that would satisfy her soul’s desire: “Jesus replied, “I am the living water,” he said “Anyone who consumes this water would soon find themselves thirsty once again.
  5. It transforms into a gushing stream of life within them, granting them endless existence.” (John 4:13–14, New International Version) This source of live water could only be obtained via him.
  6. Despite the fact that they had never met before, Jesus stated that he was aware that she had been married five times and was currently living with a guy who was not her husband.

In response, the woman stated, “You must be a prophet.” (John 4:19, New Living Translation) Jesus now had her whole and total attention!

Jesus Revealed Himself as God

Jesus and the lady had a discussion about their respective approaches to religion, and the woman expressed her belief that the Messiah was on his way. “I am he,” Jesus said, referring to himself as “I who speak to you.” (John 4:26, English Standard Version) The disciples returned just as the lady was beginning to comprehend the gravity of her meeting with Jesus. They, too, were taken aback when they discovered him conversing with a lady. The woman returned to town, leaving her water jar behind and inviting the people to “Come, see a man who told me everything that I ever did,” according to the story.

The Samaritans came from Sychar, enthused by what the woman had told them, and pleaded with Jesus to come and stay with them.

When Jesus went, the people informed the lady, “.

Lessons From the Woman at the Well

The lady expressed her opinion that the Messiah was on his way, and Jesus and the woman exchanged ideas about worship. “I, who speak to you, am he,” Jesus responded. According to the English Standard Version (ESV), John 4:26. The disciples returned just as the lady was beginning to comprehend the significance of her meeting with Jesus. Their surprise at finding him talking to a lady was shared by the rest of the group. The lady returned to town, leaving her water jar behind and encouraging the residents to “Come, meet a guy who told me everything that I ever did,” according to the story.

Between then and now, Jesus reminded his followers that the harvest of souls had been ready since the prophets, Old Testament writers, and John the Baptist had sowed the seeds of righteousness.

Jesus stayed for two days, sharing his knowledge of the Kingdom of God with the Samaritan people.

4 Amazing Things We Can Learn from the Woman at the Well

We live in a culture that is heavily focused on finding the next greatest item at all times. We will be concentrating on the next best method of organizing a closet. The next best thing to purchase. Our lives are always preoccupied with the next thing. When someone disturbs us, or when they are no longer able to bring us happiness, we move away and search for a new partner to replace them. As our lives are planned, priced out, and in pursuit of perfection, our souls rarely find a place to rest.

We want for a sense of completion, relaxation, and joy that cannot be found in any other person, location, or endeavor other than ourselves.

However, we frequently fail to see that the fulfillment we seek can only be found in a Messiah who speaks in the spirit and in the truth. We are blind to our own need until the Anointed one opens our eyes, as revealed by the Samaritan lady in John 4:1-29.

Who Is the Samaritan Woman and Why Was She Alone at the Well?

The narrative of the Samaritan lady begins as Jesus and His followers are traveling through the Judean countryside (John 3:22). The scripture tells us that Jesus had to cross through Samaria on His way from Judea to Galilee, and that He did so in order to do so. This was unusual for Jews to do in and of itself, because Samaritans were a mixed race of Jews and Gentiles who were despised by both sides of the religious divide. “So he traveled to a village in Samaria called Sychar, which was close to the land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph,” John 4:5-6 explains.

  • It was around six o’clock at the time.
  • It would have been the middle of the day, and the vast majority of individuals would have been sleeping or relaxing at that time.
  • Nevertheless, Jesus had dispatched His disciples (John 4:8), and we see the woman approaching the well in search of water.
  • She has been married five times and is presently living in unrepentant sin with her lover, who is her fifth husband (John 4:16-18).
  • But Jesus chose to meet this exact woman at this specific time because He was determined to do so by His divine purposefulness.

How Is Jesus Revealed in This Story?

While Jesus and His followers are out in the Judean countryside, the narrative of the Samaritan woman unfolds before them (John 3:22). When Jesus was traveling from Judea to Galilee, the Bible informs us that He had to pass through Samaria (John 4:4). Because Samaritans were a mixture of Jews and Gentiles, and hence detested by both groups, this was an unusual thing for Jews to do. “So he traveled to a village in Samaria called Sychar, which was close the field ethat Jacob had given to his son Joseph,” John 4:5-6 explains.

  1. It was almost six o’clock by this time.
  2. During that time of day, it would have been quite hot, and most people would have been sleeping or relaxing.
  3. We see the lady approaching the well for water, but Jesus has already sent His followers away (John 4:8).
  4. After five marriages, she is now living in unrepentant sin with her lover, whom she met through a mutual acquaintance (John 4:16-18).

These circumstances indicate that she want to escape the embarrassment that would be associated with going to the well while other ladies were in the room with her. But Jesus intended to meet this exact woman at this specific time because He was acting with divine purpose.

4 Things Christians Can Learn from The Story of the Woman at the Well

1. Jesus is the only source of Living Water that can fill our spiritual need. Our souls are searching for significance and purpose outside of Christ in the same way that the Samaritan lady was searching for fulfillment outside of Christ (John 4:14). However, when Jesus exposed Himself to her, he strove to demonstrate to her that He was the never-ending source of water she had been seeking (John 7:38). Jesus is the living water that we are in desperate need of. Because He is the Living Water, we may place our confidence and trust in Him and be confident that the well will never run dry (Psalm 37:4).

  1. He will never be dissatisfied with anything.
  2. Jesus Christ is the eternal source of all of life’s blessings: peace, joy, love, self-control, truth, hope, and fulfillment (Galatians 5:22-23).
  3. 2.
  4. A prophetic image was formed in the woman’s mind because Jesus gently pointed out her wrongdoing and “told me all I had ever done” (John 4:29).
  5. He is aware of our wants, and yet He continues to seek us and love us (Romans 3:23).
  6. “For God was pleased to have all of his fullness dwell in him, and in him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross,” Colossians 1:19-20 states.
  7. “God demonstrates his love for us by sending Jesus Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” -Romans 5:83 (NIV).
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Similarly to how the Samaritan lady did not completely comprehend who Jesus was at first glance, we too require Jesus to enlighten our eyes to the reality of who He truly is (Psalm 146:8,Ephesians 4:18).

On the cross, Jesus put our sin and humiliation to death, and he asks us to walk in the light as a result (John 8:12,1 John 1:7,Psalm 27:1).

4.

When Jesus is identified as our Messiah, He is elevated to the position of Lord of our lives.

We give Him our wishes, gifts, talents, time, and money, and He accepts them (James 4:7).

The live water that has been freely provided to us in Christ becomes the well-spring of our existence as a result of this (John 4:13-14).

Jesus becomes such a treasure to us, just as He had been to the Samaritan woman, that we are unable to keep ourselves from telling others about the joy He has brought into our lives by His sacrifice (John 4:28-30).

As a result, we no longer require the next best thing, since Jesus is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to anyone. Featured picture courtesy of GuercinoviaWikimedia Commons (original image cropped).

Bible Gateway passage: John 4 – New International Version

4Now Jesus discovered that the Pharisees had learned that he was acquiring and baptizing more disciples than John A)”>(A) —2despite the fact that it was his followers who performed the baptizing, not Jesus himself. 3As a result, he left Judea B)”>(B) and returned to Galilee once more. 4At this point, he had to pass through Samaria. C)”>(C)5As a result, he traveled to a village in Samaria named Sychar, which was close to the tract of land Jacob had left his son Joseph. (D)6Jacob’s well was nearby, and Jesus, exhausted from the long trek, took a seat at the well.

7When a Samaritan lady approached Jesus while he was drawing water, he asked her, “Will you give me a drink?” ” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”>” E)”> (E) Eighth (His followers had gone into the town to F)”>(F)purchase provisions.) The Samaritan lady addressed him as follows: “You are a Jew, whereas I am a Samaritan G)”>(G) woman.” “How are you going to ask me for a drink?” (Because Jews do not mingle with Samaritans, this is true.) Then Jesus said to her, “If you had known the gift of God, and who is it that is asking you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you live water” (H) The woman remarked, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.” Where can I obtain some of this elixir of life?

Are you more powerful than our forefather Jacob, who gave us the well I)”>(I)and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his cattle?” Jesus responded, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again,14but anyone drinks the water I provide will never be thirsty again.” The water I give them will, in fact, become in them a spring of water K)”>(K)welling up to eternal life, just as I have promised.

” L)”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”>”L”> (L) 15The lady approached him and said, “Sir, please give me this water so that I do not become thirsty M)”>(M) and have to keep coming here to draw water.” sixteenthHe instructed her to “go home, contact your husband, then return.” 17″I don’t have a husband,” she said.

  • 18The reality of the matter is that you have had five spouses, and the man you are now with is not your husband.
  • N)”>(N) 20Although our forefathers and foremothers worshipped on this mountain, O)”>(O)you Jews insist that the proper place for us to worship is in Jerusalem.
  • S)”>(S)we worship what we know, for salvation comes from the Jews.
  • T)”>(T) But the hour is coming, and it has already come, when real worshippers will come before the Father in spirit and truth V)”>(V), for these are the sort of worshipers the Father is looking for.

25 “I know that Messiah” (also known as Christ) X)”>(X)”is on his way,” the woman stated. When he arrives, he will go through everything in detail with us.” 26 As a result of this, Y)”>Jesus proclaimed, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he” (Y)

The Disciples Rejoin Jesus

4Jesus then discovered that the Pharisees had learnt that he was acquiring and baptizing more disciples than John A)”>(A) —2despite the reality that it was his disciples who performed the baptizing, not Jesus himself — 3As a result, he returned to Galilee after leaving Judea B)”>(B). 4After that, he had to pass through Samaria again. (C5)5So Jacob traveled to the town of Sychar in Samaria, which was near the tract of land he had given to his son Joseph, where he stayed for several days. (D)6Jacob’s well was nearby, and Jesus, exhausted from the long trek, took a seat by the water source.

‘Will you give me a drink,’ Jesus inquired of a Samaritan lady who had come to fetch water.

The Samaritan lady addressed him as follows: “You are a Jew, whereas I am a Samaritan G)”>(G)woman.” 10 You can’t just come up to me and ask for a drink.” The Samaritans are not associated with Jews, for this reason.

12Are you better than our forefather Jacob, who gave us the well I)”>(I)and drank from it himself, as did his sons and all of his animals?” Jesus responded, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again,14but anyone drinks the water I provide will never become thirsty again.” In fact, the water I give them will turn into a spring of water K)”>(K)welling up to eternal life in their hearts and minds.

the letter “L”)”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””” (L) 15The lady approached him and said, “Sir, please give me this water so that I do not become thirsty M)”>(M)and have to keep coming here to draw water.” sixteenth He instructed her to “go home, contact your husband, then return.” she said, “I don’t have a spouse.” “You are correct in claiming that you have no spouse,” Jesus stated to her.

18The reality of the matter is that you have had five spouses, and the man you are now with is not your spouse.

” N)”>(N) We worshipped on this mountain for thousands of years, O)”>(O)but you Jews insist that the proper place for us to worship is in Jerusalem.

23 24 God is spirit, W)”>(W), and those who worship him must do so in spirit and in truth.

25 “I know that Messiah” (also known as Christ) X)”>(X)”is on his way,” the lady declared. He will explain everything to us when he arrives.” 26 Y)”>Then Jesus stated, “I, the one who is speaking to you, am he” (Y)

Many Samaritans Believe

AK)”>(AK)believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” AL)”>(AK)believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did” (AL) He stayed with them for two days when the Samaritans arrived and persuaded him to stay with them longer than he had planned. 41And as a result of his teachings, a large number of people became believers. 42 They told the lady, “We no longer believe because of what you said; now that we have heard for ourselves, we are convinced that this guy is indeed the Savior of the world.” AM)”> (AM)

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son

43At the end of the two-day period AN) “>(AN)he embarked on his journey to Galilee. 44 (Jesus himself had previously stated that a prophet is not respected in his own nation.) AO) The abbreviation for “Another One” is “AO.” “As soon as he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans greeted him with open arms. They had witnessed all he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover Festival, according to AP) “>(AP)because they had also been present. 46He returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had previously performed the miracle of turning water into wine.

  1. 47When this father learned that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he immediately acted “Then he rushed to him and pleaded with him to come and treat his son, who was on the verge of dying.
  2. “Sir, please come down immediately before my kid dies,” the royal official begged.
  3. 51While he was still on the road, his attendants came up to him and informed him that his son was still alive.
  4. 54(This was the second AU sign) was displayed “After traveling from Judea to Galilee, Jesus performed a miracle.

4 Lessons from The Woman At The Well

We all have a craving in our hearts, which some people refer to as anxiousness or a sense of unfulfillment. But what if this yearning served a positive purpose rather than a negative one? That is the objective of the Living Will — to serve as a welcoming place where people can come and be filled. The lady at the well teaches us four important lessons that we may use today. Photo courtesy of Sincerely Media via Unsplash. For the most of my life, I’ve been a chaser. It seemed as if nothing in my life was ever really resolved.

  1. Alternatively, it’s possible that what I dreaded the most was really being joyful.
  2. I had a constant want for more.
  3. Then I’d be completely satisfied.
  4. It was a vicious cycle that kept me trapped and living in my misery, a sensation I despised but one that kept me safe from harm.
  5. And why I believe God chose John 4 over The Living Well as a result of this investment.
  6. We should be reminded of the one and only location where we can get refilled, and we should return home to the spot where we will never be thirsty again.

What I know is that there is no earthly craving, no amount of seeking or looking for the ideal thing would ever satisfy me in the end. There is no such thing as a flawless diet, a fairy tale relationship, or reaching your ideal weight that can ever fully please you.

The well runs deep

There is a void in our life that is so enormous and a need that is so profound that it can only be filled by one thing. That is none other than God himself. A void that appears to be readily concealed by a need for more of whatever worldly object you feel would fulfill your needs at the time. And we all have something here that we are concerned about; perhaps it is your health. Alternatively, we may mistake it for concern that is constantly there under the surface. But it’s possible that yearning for more isn’t a terrible sensation at all, but rather a necessary one.

  • Who is responsible for supplying us with energy and infusing life into our bodies?
  • Allowing the yearning to serve as a reminder to go and get restocked!
  • Here are four things we may learn from the lady at the well.
  • Be patient.

1. The Samaritan woman scheduled her day to avoid her deepest pains.

Despite this, Jesus still greeted her!” And he had to go through Samaria on his way there. As a result, he traveled to a village in Samaria known as Sychar, which was close to the farm that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jesus, exhausted from his travels, sat alongside Jacob’s well to rest when it was filled with water. It was 12 o’clock. A lady from Samaria came to the well to fetch water. “Please give me a drink,” Jesus instructed her. In response, the Samaritan woman said, “How come you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a lady of Samaria?” He replied, “I don’t understand.” 4:4–9 (John 4:4–9) This Samaritan lady, who happened to be drinking at the well with the Savior of the world on purpose, had come to the well at this particular hour to drink.

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But she went ahead and did it.

In order to avoid coming into contact with the other residents of the community.

She was seen as a social pariah.

Yet Jesus found her there.

This narrative has a lot of parallels to my own in terms of plot and characters. There are so many instances in which I can identify with the Samaritan lady who thought that she didn’t add up. She was adrift in a sea of her own inability to cope. She was most likely under the impression that there was no way to save her since she had gotten too far gone. Rather of addressing her reality, she organized her life in such a manner that she would be able to maintain her current state, more for her own protection than for her own enjoyment.

Jesus, on the other hand, was there. He was sitting at the well, waiting for someone to give him a drink. Jesus, the Saviour of the World, approaches an outcast and asks him to assist him. Clearly indicating the truth of the situation:

  • The eyes of God are open to everyone, no matter how far they have fallen. He has a plan and a purpose for everyone of us
  • He will never leave us alone
  • He will always be close with us

The key is whether or not you are willing to engage with him.

2. She stayed with Jesus.

And Jesus was unaffected by her transgression. He was a source of comfort for her. If I had been in this circumstance with a past similar to hers, I believe I would have turned around the moment I noticed a guy sitting by the well, for obvious reasons. I’m not sure I would have even tried to engage in conversation. But she did more than just show there; she remained and engaged in conversation with him. She was intrigued and wanted to know more. She inquired of him as follows:

  • What right do you have to ask me for a drink? You’re probably wondering where you can buy this live water. Are you more powerful than our ancestor Jacob?

“The Samaritan lady confronted him, saying, “How can you, a Jew, approach me, a woman from Samaria, and beg for a drink?” ‘If you had known the gift of God, and who it was that was calling out to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have begged him, and he would have given you living water,’ Jesus responded. Mr. Sir, you have nothing with which to draw water, and the well is quite deep, remarked the woman to him. Who or what is providing you with this life-giving water? Are you more powerful than our ancestor Jacob?

  • 4:9-12 (John 4:9-12) It would have been simple for her to abandon ship.
  • But she didn’t run, and she didn’t flee; instead, she pursued after him.
  • He’s right here, waiting for us to do the same thing for him.
  • He recognizes your significance as well as the beauty with which he made you.
  • Jesus is constantly at your side.
  • What happens if you happen to be in his presence?
  • Crack the surface open and give him the room he needs to fill his void, which can only be achieved by remaining.

3. She received His filling.

The living water was made available by Jesus. She stayed with Jesus for a long enough period of time to see him. She didn’t just look at things superficially; she probed and was willing to be open to new ideas. Perhaps even more significant is the fact that Jesus remained and demonstrated to her that he possessed what she had been seeking all along. In an instant, her heart’s cry, her unfulfilled anticipation, her simmering uneasiness, her churning in the pit of her stomach, and the thirst she could never quench might all be gone in an instant.

John 4:13-15 is a passage from the Bible that teaches about the love of God and the love of neighbor.

Jesus made an offer, and He continues to make an offer. That is one thing we are certain of. He promises us all redemption, truth, and fulfillment, as well as a place where we will never again be thirsty. The only question is whether or not we will receive it.

The giving of Jesus is a guarantee.The receiving on our end is the stumbling block.

Receiving is difficult. Especially when we fear we’ve gone too far down the wrong path. Perhaps you have enough faith to gain salvation, but you’re having difficulty maintaining enough faith to see it through to completion. Receiving, on the other hand, is not a destination. It is a definite activity. It is a daily decision that we never cease to make. It is in the act of receiving that our satisfaction is diminished. You’ve been programmed to crave. In order to fulfill that craving, you’re created to sense a burning desire in your spirit, which motivates you to return daily to accept the one thing that can satisfy that want: Christ.

4. She desired to go and do.

This is perhaps the part of the speech that gets me the most excited. But first, let’s look at the verse to make sure you understand what I’m talking about: After leaving her water jar and walking into town, the lady called out to the people, “Come meet a guy who told me all that I ever done.” “Does this look like the Christ?” They had driven out of town and were on their way to see him. Because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever done,” a large number of Samaritans from that town came to believe in Jesus.

And many more came to believe as a result of his message.” John 4:28-42 (NIV) When the woman realized what she had seen, she instantly raced off to tell her friends.

To spread the gospel and make disciples are two different things.

My Hope For The Living Well

This is the narrative I’ve been praying over for The Living Well, and it’s now here. Hopes for the future include that it will be a haven of love, truth, restoration, and acceptance. A place where you may come and be refreshed so that you can go forth and fulfill your God-given mission. We are not intended to fill from an empty cup, since when we run out of options, we turn to a quick and often transient source of comfort for relief. However, choosing to live filled, to accept His filling on a daily basis, causes it to overflow into all parts of your life and into the lives of others.

And may the filling provide you with the energy to go forth into the world and live your God-given purpose.

Allow him to do the task. Allow him to serve as your healer and guide. Come back to him on a regular basis because he is the source of living well, and He is the only one who permits you to live well. Get satiated, and may you never again feel thirsty.

Through Christ you can be filled up and find everything you need.

God, you were the one who met the Samaritan lady at the well on that particular day. Meet us in this narrative from the Bible, as well as in our own lives on this day. Amen.

Key Scripture

4:42 “She invited the audience to come and meet a guy who had confessed to her all she had done! Is it possible that this man is the Christ?'” (John 4:29, Catholic Encyclopedia Britannica)

Who Was the Samaritan Woman at the Well?

Despite the fact that we are not informed what this woman’s name is, she had the longest dialogue with Jesus of any character in the Gospel of John. Despite this, she has been mistreated or misunderstood on several occasions throughout the years as a result of her sexual history. This component of her past frequently influences our interpretation of this incident, so before we go on to the rest of her talk with Jesus, let’s take a closer look at this aspect. Five weddings is a significant amount, to say the least.

  1. In a society where women were married at an early age, becoming a widow was a regular experience for women.
  2. As a consequence, it appears that her numerous marriages were not the result of her choosing to do so.
  3. Concubineship was a legal arrangement with a lower social rank than marriage, but it was an option she might pursue.
  4. Another position for her was that of a second wife, a function that was socially acceptable but not thought to be of equal importance to the role of the first wife.

Digging Deeper

After a long morning’s travel, Jesus comes across this Samaritan lady at Jacob’s Well and defies social convention by approaching her and asking for a drink. This border crossing between a Jew and a Samaritan ignites a discussion on the religious differences between the two peoples involved. She, like all Samaritans, can trace her lineage all the way back to Jacob. She holds this institution in high regard, but she is intrigued by this visitor who claims to be offering much more. “Are you better than our father Jacob, who gave us this well?” she inquires, demonstrating a thorough understanding of her own tradition’s teachings.

  • Despite this, she is looking forward to the everlasting plenty that Jesus offers.
  • The subject of her personal background and current marital predicament is brought up as a result of this.
  • And Jesus confirms that what she has stated is correct, as well as indicating that he has seen and knows her in a more intimate way than she could have imagined.
  • As they continue their theological debate, he responds by asking her about the correct site of worship, which she believes to be a significant distinction in religious practices between Jews and Samaritans.
  • Her anticipation for the coming Messiah is heightened by Jesus’ talk of the future.
  • ‘I am he’, says Jesus in response to the question.
  • She has finally met the Messiah, the one she has been waiting for all her life.

However, the disciples stop their chat at that point, but she has already received what she needs to hear. Then she dashes back to the hamlet, telling everyone she sees, “Come see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done.” “How can he be the Messiah?” you might wonder. (4:29).

She Is Called and We Are Called

The Samaritan lady asks Jesus questions about her faith and hope, and he responds to her inquiries with open attention and open heart. The more time she spends with him, the more her comprehension of the situation deepens until she realizes the whole truth: Jesus is the Christ. Her posture of discipleship, learning from Jesus, is evident throughout this dialogue, and she is now being called to be an evangelist by the Holy Spirit. She leaves her water jar behind, just as the disciples abandoned their fishing nets, as a symbol of her entire acceptance of Jesus’ request to join him on the road to Emmaus.

“Many Samaritans from that city believed in him as a result of the woman’s testimony,” the Bible says at the conclusion (John 4:39, NRSV).

Her acts encourage us to remain connected to Jesus and to ask questions about our religion in order to gain a more complete knowledge of it, as she has done in the past.

However, just as our faith development is not just for our personal benefit, the Samaritan lady uses her newfound knowledge and is spurred into action in the context of her calling.

She reminds us that our callings are chances to put our own development in faith into action for the sake of others, whether we feel called to evangelize in the same manner she does or if we are called to utilize our abilities in other ways.

Conclusion

Jesus did not pass judgment on this woman’s past, despite the fact that many Christian interpretations have done so. Instead, via her dialogue with Jesus, we learn about a form of discipleship that is open to learning more about God’s work in the world and becoming a more complete knowledge of God. Our understanding of what it is to be a follower of Jesus is reinforced by her reaction to him as an evangelist, which reminds us that being a follower of Jesus requires us to put our abilities into action for the sake of others.

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