Post from June 26, 2023

“👟 RSD 1154 ✅ Today’s Verse: “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’” — John 4:7 (4: 5+1+1)

Are you ever just done? Like, you’re doing all the things all the time, and it seems like you’re just breaking even? You’ve done 796/803 things on your list, and the other 7 things are already getting pushed onto tomorrow. You’re doing fine and keeping everything afloat, but, man, could you use a break—you know, you’re just done? The woman in today’s story was doing one of the 796 things: “I better go to the well and draw some water; we’re about out at home.”

So, like many of our other verses, today’s verse has a story behind it. Otherwise, you’re just like, “Ok, Jesus was thirsty?” Here’s some background: back in the day, people were really sticking to things like classes and cultural groups, and social status was sometimes derived from a combination of these type of things. Here’s the part that is going to help the story make more sense: Jesus was a Jew, and this woman (as you have read) was a Samaritan. Those groups didn’t get along well—in fact, they didn’t get along at all. Not like war or anything—just no mixing, no interacting, you get the idea. So, she’s shocked when Jesus asks her for water. John 4:6 tells us that “Jesus, tired as He was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.” He had been walking all morning, and she probably had to travel just a bit to arrive at this centrally-located (and historic—from Jacob, a prophet whose story is from Genesis) well. So, they were both tired and thirsty. Jesus is sitting by the well when she comes to draw water. Samaritans and Jews didn’t interact (it just wasn’t done), but Jesus doesn’t play that game.

Hence, her surprise in the story. She’s tired, probably hot, and here is this stranger wanting to make small talk (and drink water even though He had “nothing to draw with and the well [was] deep” (John 4:11)), and it’s someone from a different social class who usually wouldn’t be speaking to her in the first place. Here’s the thing, even though she’s in the middle of her day doing all the things, she doesn’t close herself off; she doesn’t “blow off” this interesting (yet kind) stranger; she’s someone who clearly makes it a habit of listening with her heart (or at least she certainly did on that day). Jesus tells her that He offers “the gift from God…living water” (John 4:10) and tells her that “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14) Of course, the “I” here is Jesus. The woman in our story is curious and wise enough to continue the conversation with this stranger, even when He tells her (matter-of-factly, but definitely not rudely) things about her past and present that she probably isn’t super proud of (at that point, she figures He’s a prophet). She doesn’t become defensive. She doesn’t blow Him off. She continues to listen to this mysterious, yet kind, stranger. After all, He’s talking to her as if she’s a person He wants to talk to. He’s talking to her as if she’s a person worthy of acceptance, worthy of love, worthy of redemption. No social status, no division. Jesus proceeds to tell her that the coming salvation is for everyone, Jews, Samaritans, and everyone else. This Living Water is something everyone is thirsty for, and Jesus offers it for everyone. This seems to pique her interest because she mentions knowing that a coming Messiah “will explain everything to us.” (John 4:25) “Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you—I am He.’” (John 4:26)

Remember the beginning of our reflection when we were talking about being tired and busy and needing to catch a break? Well, this woman took the extra time to really listen to the Man at the well and caught the break of a lifetime. She went to her town and told people about Jesus and the salvation He brings. “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony.” (John 4:39) In her hurry to do all the things that day, she leaned into the part of her that wanted to listen with the heart, realized that was sitting with the Savior of the World, and immediately wanted to share this information, this miracle (I mean—what are the odds, right?), to afford hope to many. Whatever her situation was didn’t matter at that moment: it only mattered to testify honestly to her community so that they could have that same hope. It only mattered to her to share this truth with people, and, when that’s your purpose, a lot of other things begin to fall into place. She felt this purpose and went for it; she wanted everyone to feel seen, as Jesus had made her feel. She wanted everyone to know that they were loved and that they had every reason to hope.

Jesus brings salvation for everyone, so He used someone ordinary, someone from a different background, not someone people might’ve regarded as “important” back in the 1st century, to spread His message of love and hope in eternity we all have in Jesus Christ. Salvation is for everyone through Jesus. God’s love, God’s goodwill is for everyone.

There are quite a few takeaways from today’s story, but these are the ones that stood out to me.

1. See people. Don’t overlook anyone. You never know who they might be (i.e. Samaritan woman realizes later in the convo she’s talking with the Messiah). And, you never know what making someone feel seen and valued can do (i.e. Jesus affords the Samaritan woman this tremendous opportunity to lead others to Him, and she gets on it right away with amazing results). If Jesus sees everyone, shouldn’t we?
2. Lean into things (your strengths, even if you think they’re not much). Everybody has stuff they’re good at. The Samaritan woman was a good listener, and she showed that she’s good at telling the truth. Even though spreading the message of Jesus to her town was probably a little nerve-wracking (I mean—you never know how people are going to act), she did it because she knew that’s what she was meant to do. And, here we are, in 2023, talking about how she rocked that opportunity. Her other talents? Well, she clearly knew how to love others and how to trust God.
3. Do things. Begin again, or begin something new. Even though her past might not have been perfect, the Samaritan woman went immediately back to her community to spread the message of Jesus and salvation. She wasn’t like, “Jesus, You’ve been so kind, but I don’t think I’m the right person for this. Wouldn’t You rather someone else? Someone more (devout, of a better social status, etc)?” Jesus knows you. Just like He knew alllll about her, He knows all of us, and He loves us. Jesus thinks we’re all worth dying for, remember? So, if you’re feeling a “tug” to do something in service to God (or, more likely, service to others that God wants done…serving and loving others is service to God, by the way), go for it. He knows who He picked. You’re not going to pull the “bait and switch” on the Creator of the Universe: it’s not going to happen. He meant to pick you. “But, God doesn’t know _____”—yes, He does. Are you kidding? He meant to pick you, and He’ll give you whatever you need. “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1) It’s possible to be brave and scared at the same time. God’s got you, so you’ve got this.

(Edit 2026) I left a link to this song “Woman at the Well” from 2021 in the comments on FB. Google it—it really hits.”