October 10, 2010 - The Woman at the Well

Traveling from Jerusalem in the south to Galilee in the north,Jesus and his disciples took the quickest route, through Samaria. Tired and thirsty, Jesus sat by Jacob's Well, while his disciples went to the village of Sychar, about a half mile away, to buy food. It was about noon, the hottest part of the day, and a Samaritan woman came to the well at this inconvenient time, to draw water.

In his encounter with the woman at the well, Jesus broke three Jewish customs: first, he spoke to a woman; second, she was a Samaritan woman, a group the Jews traditionally despised; and third, he asked her to get him a drink of water, which would have made him ceremonially unclean from using her cup or jar. This shocked the woman at the well.

Then Jesus told the woman he could give her "living water" so that she would never thirst again. Jesus used the words living water to refer to eternal life, the gift that would satisfy her soul's desire only available through him. At first, the Samaritan woman did not fully understand Jesus' meaning.

Although they had never met before, Jesus revealed that he knew she had five husbands and was now living with a man who was not her husband. Jesus now had her attention!

As they talked about their two views on worship, the woman voiced her faith thatMessiahwas coming. Jesus answered, "I who speak to you am he." (John 4:26,ESV)

As the woman began to grasp the reality of her encounter with Jesus, the disciples returned. They were equally shocked to find him speaking to a woman. Leaving behind her water jar, the woman returned to town, inviting the people to "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did." (John 4:29, ESV)

Meanwhile, Jesus told his disciples the harvest of souls was ready, sown by the prophets, writers of the Old Testament, and John the Baptist.

Excited by what the woman told them, the Samaritans came from Sychar and begged Jesus to stay with them.

So Jesus stayed two days, teaching the Samaritan people about the Kingdom of God.When he left, the people told the woman, "... we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:42, ESV)

Sam's Reflection

This story is about acceptance. God accepted the woman even though He knows how sinful the woman is. God will always forgive us no matter what happens, so make sure that you won't waste His forgiveness.

Pauline's Reflection

I've learned that who ever you are a sinner, a criminal, an abusive person etc. Jesus can still forgive you.:) If you believe in God there is always forgiveness. So, you should your enemies because even God can forgive the most sinful person.:)

Patricia's Reflection