The Road to the Cross (2)

Living Water

John 4:5-26 “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. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, a…”

I. Intro

Have you ever been in a place where you were running away from God, or maybe you have gotten so far away from God, you think you are at the point of no return? Possibly you feel as if you have sinned so much or so greatly, that God would not receive you back? Have you ever felt so ashamed that you would rather keep on running, rather than face God, and turn back to Him? You know how there are certain things from your childhood you can remember, and some things you can’t? Well I remember this one time, I was around 6 years old. I was fed up with my mom and dad’s rules and I was going to just run away so I could be my own boss. So I got my backpack, and went to the kitchen and put a jar of peanut butter, and some crackers in it, and went and told my parents I was fed up with their rules, and I was running away. So I went outside and stood on the porch. (I never left the porch.) It was dark and scary outside all by myself. Sooner or later I had to face my mom and dad when I went back inside, because I knew apart from them, I could not survive at 6 years old. How many times have we been in that same exact place, where we know where we ought to be, but are too scared or ashamed of what we have done to face God, or ourselves?

Today, we are going to explore one of the most fascinating and inspiring stories in the Bible: the story of the Woman at the Well. This story, which is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 4, is a beautiful illustration of Jesus' transformative love and grace. It tells the story of a Samaritan woman who meets Jesus at a well and engages in a conversation with him that changes her life forever. As we reflect on this story today, I believe that we will discover important truths about our own spiritual journey and the power of Jesus' love to transform us from the inside out. So, whether you are a long-time follower of Jesus or just exploring your faith, I invite you to open your heart and mind to this incredible story of the Woman at the Well. May it inspire us to seek the living water that only Jesus can provide and to share it with others who thirst for it.

II. The Barriers to Acceptance (John 4:1-9)

In the Bible, the "sixth hour" refers to a specific time of day, which was counted according to Jewish timekeeping practices. In Jewish tradition, the day was divided into twelve hours, with the first hour being at sunrise (roughly 6:00 am) and the twelfth hour at sunset (roughly 6:00 pm). Therefore, the sixth hour would be around noon, or halfway through the daylight portion of the day. This is consistent with the use of the term "sixth hour" in the Gospel of John, chapter 4, where it states that Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well "about the sixth hour" It's worth noting that the Gospel of John uses a different timekeeping system than the other three Gospels, which use Roman timekeeping. This can lead to some confusion when comparing time references between the Gospels. However, in the case of the "sixth hour," the meaning is consistent across all four Gospels.

To understand the historical and cultural context of the story of the Woman at the Well, it's important to note the tension between Jews and Samaritans at the time. Samaritans were a people who lived in Samaria, the region between Judea and Galilee, and they had a distinct culture and religion that was different from that of the Jews. The origins of the Samaritans can be traced back to the Assyrian conquest of Israel in 722 BC, when many Israelites were taken into exile and replaced by Assyrian settlers. Over time, the Samaritans developed their own religious practices and beliefs that combined elements of Judaism with other influences. The Jews, who saw themselves as the true inheritors of the Israelite tradition, viewed the Samaritans with suspicion and contempt. The two groups had a long history of conflict and animosity, with the Jews considering the Samaritans to be heretics and outcasts. This tension is evident in the story of the Woman at the Well, as Jesus, a Jew, engages in conversation with a Samaritan woman. The fact that the woman is surprised and hesitant to speak with Jesus reflects the cultural norms of the time, which discouraged social interaction between Jews and Samaritans. However, Jesus' willingness to engage with the woman and offer her living water is a powerful statement about the inclusivity and universality of his message. By reaching out to someone who was seen as an outsider and a sinner, Jesus challenges the social and religious boundaries of his time and invites us to do the same.

The story of the Woman at the Well in John 4 doesn't explicitly state how the woman felt about her past, but we can infer from her actions and words that she may have felt unworthy or ashamed of her past. Firstly, the woman comes to the well at noon, which was an unusual time for women to fetch water. Most women would go to the well early in the morning or in the evening when the weather was cooler, and it was also a social occasion to catch up with other women in the community. The fact that the woman is alone and comes to the well at a time when no one else is there suggests that she may have been trying to avoid the judgment or gossip of others in her community. Secondly, when Jesus asks the woman to fetch her husband, she replies that she has no husband. Jesus then reveals that he knows she has had five husbands and that the man she is currently with is not her husband. This conversation implies that the woman has had multiple failed relationships or marriages, which may have led to feelings of shame or unworthiness. Finally, the fact that the woman is surprised that Jesus, a Jewish man, would speak to her, a Samaritan woman, also suggests that she may have felt like an outsider or unwelcome in certain social or religious circles. Overall, while the story doesn't explicitly state how the woman felt about her past, we can infer from the details of the story that she may have felt unworthy or ashamed of her past experiences and relationships. However, through her encounter with Jesus, she is able to find forgiveness, acceptance, and new life, which offers hope and transformation for all of us who may feel unworthy or burdened by our pasts.

III. The Source of Transformation (John 4:10-26)

Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well and asks her for a drink of water. The conversation then turns to the topic of "living water," which Jesus offers to give her. This living water is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit, which brings eternal life. At first, the woman is confused by Jesus' offer and questions how he could give her living water since he has nothing to draw with and the well is deep. However, as Jesus continues to speak to her, she begins to understand the spiritual significance of what he is saying. Jesus reveals to the woman that he knows everything about her past and current situation, which astonishes her. He explains that the water from the well will only quench her thirst temporarily, but the living water he offers will become a wellspring within her, leading to eternal life. The woman's encounter with Jesus leads to a transformative experience, and she becomes a believer. She leaves the well and goes to her village to tell others about Jesus, proclaiming, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?

The story of the woman at the well has relevance to our lives today in several ways:

Jesus meets us where we are: Just as Jesus went to the well to meet the Samaritan woman, he meets us where we are in our lives. No matter what our background or circumstances, Jesus is willing to engage with us and offer us the living water of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus knows everything about us: Like the Samaritan woman, Jesus knows everything about our past and present. He knows our struggles, fears, and failures. Yet, he still offers us the gift of eternal life and transformation through the Holy Spirit.

The living water is available to all: The living water that Jesus offers is not exclusive to any particular group or race. It is available to anyone who believes in him and accepts his offer of salvation.

Our encounter with Jesus can lead to transformation: Just as the woman at the well was transformed by her encounter with Jesus, our encounter with him can lead to transformation in our lives. It can change the way we see ourselves and others, and give us a new perspective on our purpose and calling.

We are called to share the good news: Like the woman at the well, we are called to share the good news of Jesus with others. We are to testify to what he has done in our lives and invite others to come and experience the living water for themselves.

IV. Conclusion

The story of the woman at the well in the Gospel of John is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of encountering Jesus. We see in this story how Jesus meets the Samaritan woman where she is, knows everything about her, and offers her the living water of the Holy Spirit that can quench her spiritual thirst forever. The encounter with Jesus leads to a radical transformation in the woman's life, and she becomes a witness to others, sharing the good news of what Jesus has done for her. Like the Samaritan woman, we all have areas in our lives where we are thirsty and in need of the living water that only Jesus can offer. It may be a thirst for love, acceptance, purpose, or meaning. But no matter what our thirst is, Jesus is willing to meet us where we are, offer us the living water, and transform our lives. As we reflect on this story, let us remember that Jesus is the source of all that we need. He offers us not just temporary satisfaction, but an eternal spring of living water that satisfies our deepest longings. Let us also remember that as witnesses of Jesus, we are called to share the good news with others. We can testify to what Jesus has done in our lives and invite others to come and experience the living water for themselves. May we all be like the woman at the well, willing to encounter Jesus, receive his living water, and share it with others, so that many may come to know him and be transformed by his love.