The woman at the well

Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well

Verse 4

There was a very interesting tradition that people had during Jesus’ time. As people traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem, they it was very natural to walk right through Samaria because Samaria was right in the middle of those two places. You just walk through there. That seems to make perfect sense until I share this wild tradition with you. Jews would actually go way out of their way to walk al the way around Samaria in order to ovoid samaritans. They did this actually in a racist act of avoiding Samaritans. So when we see that Jesus actually walked through Samaria, thats kind of wild and certainly Not normal.

Jesus disciples had gone out to find food and jesus went alone ot a well

At the well, Jesus found something that was very unusual. He found a woman all lone. This was really weird because women always traveled to retrieve water together. The next thing that was so unusual was that it was mid day. This woman went to the well at a time when nobody else would go due to the heat.

Jesus asks the woman for a drink

Here you have amoman who is an outcast in an outcast societty. She is so shamed by her reputation that she is forvced to retrieve water in the heat of the day all alone. Then she is approached by a man who is so high above her socailly that she doesnt know what to do. She is confused that a man would address someone as shamefula s herself. No only that, but a teacher of high standing like Jesus.

Give me this water so I dont have to come back

This is a really common response to the gospel. People want the heaven that Jesus has to offer, or the eternal life, or the gifts, or the safety, or the comfort. At this point in the conversation, the woman was not interested in Jesus, she was just interested in what He had to offer.

The Need for living water

After the woman does not realize that Jesus offers more than just water, Jesus changes the subject in order to direct the conversation to the focus of the woman’s need for living water.

Jesus came to wipe away the sins of the world and that is what He is offering this woman. He is talking about a thirst for something more than water. As much as this woman needed water to survive she needed forgiveness for her sins that placed a heavy weight on her soul.

You worship what you do not know

I am He

Jesus shares God’ forgiveness, eternal life, love with Samaritans.