Read John 4:1-30
Jesus was always trying to duck the poparotzi of his days which were the Pharisees. They were noticing his popularity and were always trying to cause trouble for him. So Jesus left for Samaria. Samaria was an Israelite capital which had been a place of idol worship under Ahab and Jezebel's reign. It had been besieged a number of times but God always preserved it. Samaria means a watch station. It was considered a "high place" as far as worship so Jesus must go there and preach the truth. The city he was going to in Samaria was Sychar which means an intense intoxicanting drink which is probably why Jesus went to a well to talk about drink. When she came Jesus asked her for something to drink. This well was Jacob's well and it was the 6th hour (man's hour- or woman's hour in this case). In Jacob's story Rachel and the other shepherds couldn't get water from the well till someone came and rolled the huge stone off so they could water their sheep. Jacob came and rolled the stone off and she was able to water her sheep. Then Jacob kissed her and wept. I'm sure she wondered what this stranger was doing being so kind to her. When Jacob told Rachel who he was Rachel ran home to tell her father. His father went to meet Jacob and welcomed him into his house. In today's reading we have a woman who Jesus asks for some water. She like Rachel wondered why this man was being so kind to her since she was a Samaritan. Then Jesus starts talking about this living water. Sounded greater than the intoxicant the city was known for. What type of alcohol could make you not thirst again and give you everlasting life? She wanted this water so Jesus told her to go get her husband. She responded that she didn't have one. This was a test to see if she would be transparent. Jesus commended her on her honesty then gave her a word of wisdom - she has had 5 husbands and the one she was with right now she was not married to. This put the fear of God in her and she knew he was a prophet so she turned religious and asked him a religious question. Where are we really suppose to worship: on this mountain or in Jerusalem?
Jesus cuts to the chase and talks about the real issue: worship. Worship is not where you do it but how you do it. You do it in Spirit and in truth - who cares where you are?
Next, the woman asks him about a more intimate question that reveals her hungry heart. She believes that a Messiah is coming and wants to know if when he comes he can answer all her questions. Jesus perceives that she is ready to be kissed with the truth and he comes right out and tells her that he is the Messiah. Then she, like Rachel went home and told the people who she had met at the well and the whole city came out to meet Jesus.
People of the world are dry land with no water. Those that are thirsty hang out near wells. We are to be those wells that spring forth living water. Just being around us should evoke thirst in them for the truth so go make someone thirsty.
Lord, let your living water spring up in us so that we smell like water to the thirsty people that cross our path.
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