The story of the Woman at the Well is a familiar Bible story and is recorded in John 4:1-42. The manifestation of Jesus’ great love for humanity is displayed on many levels. Jesus is resting at Jacob’s well when a Samaritan woman comes to draw water. Jesus engages her in conversation—Jews did not care for the Samaritans; racial prejudices existed between them. Men and women of the time did not carry on public, casual conversations and certainly a Rabbi of the time would not have engaged a woman in conversation in this situation; there were gender issues and social inequities to be considered. The woman through her own actions shows she was of questionable reputation because she came to the well to draw late in the day in lieu of the early morning when other townswomen would have been there. So there were also social and moral implications to consider as well.
Yet Jesus engages the woman in conversation and tells her of the “living water”, (v.10). She, in turn, leaves her water-pot behind—indicating urgency—tells the men of the city, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done”, (v. 29). The Messiah had introduced Himself to her and she returns immediately to share the Good News with her village. Verses 40 and 41 tell us that Jesus and His disciples stayed there for two days and “many more believed because of His word”.
What are some of the lessons we should be mindful of from within this story? Jesus shared His Good News with someone whom society deemed unfit for Him to speak. The woman having received the Good News shared it immediately with others. In verses 31-34, when His disciples are urging Him to eat, Jesus tells them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work”, (v. 34); in other words, God will sustain us and provide for our needs while we are at His work. In verse 35, Jesus says, the fields are white for harvest—the time to share the Good News is NOW.
Praise God and spread the Word NOW, to whomever, whenever—God will take care of you!
God bless you!
