Jesus left Judea because of all the gossip concerning him. The Pharisee heard that his disciples had baptized more than John the Baptist. On his way to Galilee, Jesus stopped in Sychar, Samaria around noon. His disciples went to get some food while Jesus waited by the well of Jacob. A Samaritan woman approached the well whom Jesus asked to draw him some water. I believe that Jesus was asking her for her life. He was waiting by the well because he knew exactly what time she would be there, and where she would be in her life. She asked him "Why me?"(vs 9) He said "if you knew who I was and what I could give you, you wouldn't ask me that question. Instead you would ask for life and the Holy Spirit." (vs10) The woman replied, "Who are you to promise me anything? Are you greater than our forefathers?" (vs 11-12) Jesus said, "When you drink of this water (accept other peoples promises of life and success) you will remain empty and unsatisfied. But the water that I shall give you is a promise of everlasting life that will end your search for fulfillment." (vs 13-14) The woman said, "Sir, I don't want to thirst anymore, please give me this water (salvation)." Jesus said, "Go get your husband." "I don't have a husband," she said. "You're right, you've had five husbands, but this man that you're with right now is not your husband." said Jesus. "You must be a prophet," she said. "I have heard that when the Messiah comes he will tell us all things." Jesus said, "I am he." Then the woman ran and told everyone of her experience at the well. This Samaritan woman went from unbelief to belief, to confessing her sin, to testifying about what Christ had done for her. Jesus did not ask her about her marital status to embarrass her. He asked her to prove to her that he knew she wasn't living an honorable life; yet he was still offering her salvation (living water). Jesus says in Mark 2:17 "It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick. I did not come to invite good people but to invite sinners." New Century Version Jesus knows all about our lifestyles, but he still chose to die for us. He loves us so much that He is continually waiting by the well, hoping that you will one day come to him and say "Sir, I don't want to thirst anymore, please give me this water." Will you do that today? When will it be noon in your life? Please don't wait until it's too late. If you have already accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior then I encourage you to follow the next step that the Samaritan woman took, by testifying about it. Let people know how Jesus has changed your life. The Samaritan woman didn't tell the people what to think (vs 29). Instead she told them her story, and let them draw their own conclusions about Jesus. John 4:23-24 says, The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, and the time is here already. You see, the Father, too, is actively seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." I hope you enjoyed reading the Word of God in a new light! Have a happy Wednesday! God Bless Min. Tommy & Sis. Shatika Gray Scripture References John 4:1-4, 6-26, 28-30 New Century Version 1 The Pharisees heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more followers than John, 2 Although Jesus himself did not baptize people, but his followers did. 3 Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard about him, so he left Judea and went back to Galilee. 4 But on the way he had to go through the country of Samaria. 6 ...Jesus was tired from his long trip, so he sat down beside the well. It was about twelve o'clock noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to the well to get some water, Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." 8 (This happened while Jesus' followers were in town buying some food.) 9 The woman said, "I am surprised that you ask me for a drink, since you are a Jewish man and I am a Samaritan woman." (Jewish people are not friends with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus said, "If you only knew the free gift of God and who it is that is asking you for water, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11 The woman said, "Sir, where will you get this living water? The well is very deep, and you have nothing to get water with. 12 Are you greater than Jacob, our father, who gave us this well and drank from it himself along with his sons and flocks?" 13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 But whosoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. The water I give will become a spring of water gushing up inside that person, giving eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so I will never be thirsty again, and will not have to come back here to get more water." 16 Jesus told her, "Go get your husband and come back here." 17 The woman answered, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right to say you have no husband. 18 Really you have had five husbands, and the man you live with now is not your husband. You told the truth." 19 The woman said, "Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that Jerusalem is the place where people must worship." 21 Jesus said, "Believe me, woman. The time is coming when neither in Jerusalem nor on this mountain will you actually worship the Father. 22 You Samaritans worship something you don't understand. We understand what we worship, because salvation comes from the Jews. 23 The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, and the time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25 The woman said, "I know that the Messiah is coming." (Messiah is the One called Christ.) "When the Messiah comes, he will explain everything to us." 26 Then Jesus said, "I am he-I, the one talking to you." 28 Then the woman left her water jar and went back to town. She said to the people, 29 Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Do you think he might be the Christ? 30 So the people left town and went to see Jesus. |
| Jesus and the Samaritan Woman Jan. 14, 2004 |