Passing through Samaritan territory, Jesus did what Jews don’t normally do. He took time to start a conversation with a marginalized woman which started when He sat at a well asking her for water.
She, surprised, asked, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (John 4:9). She points right at the bone of contention. The elephant in the room. They were speaking from opposite sides of the tracks. How, indeed, could He ask?
Because He’s Jesus. He came to break down walls that separate people from God. Easing the conversation forward, Jesus addresses her with a spiritual question, “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” (v. 10).
Do you know who Jesus is? He is the creator of the universe. By Him all things consist. He laid down His life in love to rescue lost sinners. He raises people from the dead. He opens the eyes of the blind. He revives the humble and gives them new strength. He is the Savior of the world. He is the Shepherd of the worldwide church.
This woman, not knowing Jesus, did not ask for the living water. Will you? Those who know Him ask again and again, for this world of darkness and death cannot satisfy, cannot renew, cannot restore to new life. It can take but cannot give. But Jesus gives eternal life. Jesus gives what the fallen world cannot.
The woman brought up practical matters, like He had no bucket, and the well is so deep, so where will He get the water from? Then she recalls the first part of His response and retorts, “Are you greater than our father Jacob?” Jesus has nothing to draw the water with, but Jacob dug the well that feeds the people and livestock, vv. 11-12. With this, she challenges His claim of providing water.
A person might be dismissive of the claims of Jesus by saying that we have electricity, hot and cold running water, medicine for what ails us, a military to protect us, science to solve our riddles, and the internet to answer our questions and shape our community.
Jesus points right at the bone of contention. The elephant in the room. “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again” (v. 13). We know that all of our privileges have failed us time and again. With all our progress, where is utopia? People aren’t buying the claims of the world system anymore. Dystopia has replaced utopia in books and movies and games.
Jesus continues, “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” (vv. 13-14). Jesus gently presses His claim, which is spiritual, but using natural imagery. He could give what Jacob could not.
The woman isn’t on the same spiritual wavelength. She is still thinking of physical water. “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw” (v. 15). With her acceptance of what Jesus wants to give, He kicks it up a notch by asking her to bring her husband. When she denies she has a husband, and He states the truth about her relationships. Now she is confronted with the conclusion that He is not mere man, but a prophet of God (vv. 16-19).
She starts talking about spiritualities the only way she knows how–by differences in religious worship between her people and the Jews (v. 20). The Samaritans worshiped in the north while the Jews worshiped where God had indicated, Jerusalem.
Jesus uses that opening to show her how the spiritual realities of God go beyond our human limitations of religious practices. Worship of God, who is spirit, will no longer be severely localized, whether on a mountain or in Jerusalem. God seeks true worshipers who worship in spirit and truth (vv. 21-24).
The woman finally settles on a Person. “I know that Messiah is coming” (v. 25). Jesus points her to Himself. “I who speak to you am He” (v. 26).
Jesus wants us to stop circling the airport, going around and around with our religious questions and issues, and land the plane. Jesus Christ is the answer that takes care of a lot of vexing questions.
You’re a sinner. Jesus is Savior. You’re in a tough spot. Jesus rescues. You have a bleak future. Jesus controls eternity. Land the plane and trust yourself to Jesus.
