Word for the day “Learning from the samaritan woman”
John 4 (NIV) 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”
WHEN YOU COME TO THE END OF YOURSELF, THE LORD WILL WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU.
The story of the Samaritan woman at the well, recorded only in the Gospel of John, is a compelling one, replete with many truths and powerful insights for us today. In (John 4:4–42) we read about Jesus’ conversation with a lone nameless Samaritan woman who had come to get water from a well (known as Jacob’s well) located about a half-mile from the city of Sychar in Samaria. In other words, Jesus went out of his way to speak to this woman who was in a lonely place in her life. Throughout the Old Testament, wells symbolize a place of significance. Abraham’s servant found a wife for his son Isaac by a well (Genesis 24); Jacob met his wife, Rachel, by a well (Genesis 29:10). This was a fascinating woman. She was a Samaritan, a race of people that the Jews of Roman Greco time despised as having no claim on their God, and she was an outcast and rejected by her own people. This is evidenced by the fact that she came alone to draw water from the community well when, during biblical times, drawing water and conversing at the well symbolized social significance in a woman’s day.
THE LORD WANTS TO BE IN A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
This woman was ridiculed and marked as immoral, an unmarried woman living openly with the sixth in a series of men. Therefore, when the gospel of John tells us that Jesus encountered a woman at Jacob’s well, we should expect that something special like a new relationship or marriage is in the making. Bishop Barren in his daily Lenten reflection noted the Samaritan woman represents, “says St. Augustine, for the Church, which is the Bride of Jesus”. The story of the woman at the well teaches us that God loves us in spite of what’s wrong or right in our lives. God loves and desires us enough to actively seek us, to welcome us to intimacy, and desires our worship of Him (John 4:24). As a result of Jesus’ conversation, only a person like the Samaritan woman, rejected from her own people, could understand what this means. To be wanted, to be cared for when no one, not even herself, could see anything of value in her; this was amazing grace at work in her life.
Upon reading Bishop Barrens Lenten's reflection, he noted “Think of the five husbands as five errant paths that the woman has taken. She has “married” herself to wealth, pleasure, honor, power, material things, etc. Or think of them as five ideologies she has followed, hoping to find joy. However, it was her sixth encounter with a man named Jesus that her life was forever changed. Only through Jesus can we obtain and receive eternal life: “Jesus answered, everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life’” (John 4:13–14) Always remember it is our testimony about Jesus that is most compelling in leading others to believe in Him: “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, He told me everything I ever did.” So, when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and for two days he stayed with them. They experienced Jesus for themselves as the Savior of the world (John 4:39–42).
POINT TO PONDER
Jesus proposed to the nameless Samaritan woman at the well in marriage. We come to understand that it’s Jesus alone that can give us joy, peace, and eternal life. And after we have experienced Jesus in our lives, then all other aspects of life can be added (Matthew 6:33-34). However, whichever way your life unfolds if you have Jesus, you will be able to make it! Ask yourself these questions:
What are you looking for in your life to make you happy?
How many choices have you made that left your life incomplete?
Can you relate to the Samaritan woman in this story in any way?
Is your relationship with the Lord a covenant?
Do you tell others about your relationship with Jesus?
With God possibilities are endless!
Special thanks!
James Baker, Jr. and our leadership team are especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of March 2021, by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Ms. Annette Straker, Ms. Rita McGuffin, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Mable Bazemore, Ms. Evonne Bazemore, Ms. Evelyn Rosado, Ms. Itholear Abbott, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Jeanette Grant, Ms. Angela Battle, Pastor Raymond Phillips, Mr. William Jones, Ms. Angie Scraders-Murphy, Mr. Calvin Jackson, Mr. Calvin Griffith, and Ms. Gertrude Scott.
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Kingdom Blessings,