Woman at the well.

John Chapter 4 

Scripture: 

“Woman,”  Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 

Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”  (John 4:21-26) 

Observation: 

The custom of the day said that this conversation shouldn't have even happened for at least two reasons.  1) Jews didn't talk to Samaritans.  2) Men didn't talk to women unless their husbands were present.   

In spite of that, what follows is the longest recorded dialogue between two people.  The unnamed woman came to the well to draw water in the heat of the day rather than the morning when all the rest did; likely to avoid the shame or nasty comments made by her judgmental neighbors.  While there, she meets Jesus, who addressed the deeper thirst she had for love, acceptance, and life.  While she deflected and demurred through the conversation, pointing out their differences, even to the basics of where they worshiped - Jesus broke all the cultural barriers to reach a woman who desperately needed truth. 

Application: 

What do we deflect about when we are talking to God?  We can get so caught up in the traditions, cultures and social implications of a topic or a current event "hot button" that we miss the truth. Today it's impossible for Jesus to happen across us at the water cooler at work.  But it's not impossible for the Holy Spirit to have a conversation with us, and unlock truths when we seek Him.  Ask the Spirit to teach you the deep things of God (1st Cor. 2:10). 

This woman, when her life story was revealed and God reached her, went to those neighbors she'd avoided that morning and introduced them to the Savior.  What will you do with the truths you are confronted with? 

Prayer: 

Lord, I pray today for the ones who feel alone at the well.  I pray for your Spirit to confront them with truth and love, and that they would have the courage to then take you back to their neighbors.  Amen!