Intentionally avoiding people, a woman heads out to draw water in the midday heat.

Blazing sun would surely keep people in their homes and protected from the sun. She thought she had it down until that particular day.

A man sat at the well, possibly in prayer, and beckoned the woman to give him a drink. He was a Jewish man and unashamed in talking to a Samaritan in the open. Shocked by this approach, she questioned his motives. Gently correcting her, he told her it was not really him that was in need of a drink of water, but it was her.

 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 NIV

Have you ever been offered such a thing by a stranger, possibly at a water fountain or in the juice aisle at the grocery store? Sometimes we duck in and out of our shopping routine as quickly as possible to avoid people. We pass by the water fountain with only a second long sip to keep us going past unfamiliar crowds. We don’t have time to chat with a stranger, and we would question the motives of someone offering us water.

But the women, she engaged in conversation, sought answers, and received life.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” vs 13-14

This life-giving water, belief in Christ, will become like a spring.

It will leap up to eternal life, giving a vigorous and abundant life. It will heal us from all sins.

Although she needed to be cautious about teaching men, the woman was excited to tell the town of the good news presented by Jesus.  She even left her water jar behind.

 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. vs. 29-30

Her testimony brought forth Samaritan followers, physically and spiritually.  The sinful woman, one with many husbands, was witnessed to by the very man who would save her soul.

When we go through our day, thinking that we are insignificant and that the Lord may not have time for us, we need to reflect upon the story of the woman at the well. 

She intentionally avoided people, perhaps out of shame, but was approached by the savior of the world.

We can look back at the culture at the time that Jesus was starting his ministry and how women, although important members of society, were not priorities when it came to religious or political encounters. Gasping by the fact that a Jewish man was talking to a Samaritan woman, she learned a great lesson in humility and faith. When we look to see how important this encounter must have been that John wrote it in his Gospel, we can appreciate and embrace the fact that Jesus not only has a heart for women, the Lord pointed it out to society.  He wanted all to know.

Do you think that the Samaritan woman was ever offered gifts by her multitude of husbands or visitors? She was probably expected to be at their beck and call as a result in accepting them. The gift that Christ offered her wasn’t like that. It was free.

Salvation is free for the taking and not just for some, but for all.

If we continue to go after the water that the world offers us, we may keep in a state of thirst. The only thing that can quenched our thirst, is by accepting the drink of life that Jesus offers.

The Lord meets us at the well, therefore we need to accept the drink that He offers.