Jesus had many encounters with women. Since He was a great liberator of women in a society which had given them a lesser role, many became His devoted disciples. Mary Magdalene, the sisters Mary and Martha, Joanna, and others whose names we will never know.
Although the Lord came first to His own people He had several dealings with gentile women as well. Perhaps one of the most interesting is His encounter with the “woman at the well.” Although she was of mixed heritage, part Jewish and part gentile, He took great interest in her and He radically changed her life. The dialogue between them is recorded in John 4:1-42………… a strange encounter indeed.
I believe that each of us can gain an insight for our own lives from reading this story.
It was high noon…she came alone. She was an outcast in her own society. She had many men in her life, but not married to all of them…..at least not the current one. She saw Him sitting at the well. Why would a Jewish man be here….in the land of the Samaritans? They avoided this area and would walk many miles south in order not to encounter them. These people were unclean and not of the pure linage of Abraham. They had their own temple and didn’t observe all the laws of Torah.
He asked her for a drink. He questioned her. She answered. He told her about her life……..how did He know? Was this a prophet?
He told her about “living water”. It was not to be found at this well. What was this “living water”? How could water be living? In this hot arid land, water was highly prized.
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”(John 4:10)
Rabbinical teaching has always regarded water as a living element. When one follows their rabbi they are said to “drink” in his teaching. With one simple declaration, the Lord presents to this outcast woman the gospel message….the “good news” of salvation. It is not only His teaching, but that He himself is the Messiah, the promised one who will bring “good tidings” to the whole world….even to these Samaritans.
Thus, this outcast woman could represent all of us. We have gone our own way. We are living in a “dry and arid land”……we all need the “living water” of Jesus.
AbideLines 