When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
John 4: 7 (NIV)
Scripture: John 4: 1-42
The story of the woman at the well is a rich story. Many times we focus on the need for us to witness to those who are different from us. This devotion looks at that from the woman’s perspective.
Dear Diary,
Today started out as every other day. We are in the hot, dry season. It was very hot today.
Each day, I dread going to the well to draw water. I would go during the cool of the day, but I fear more of the ridicule I continually suffer.
The spiteful things that Sarah and others have said to me cut to the core. So, to escape the ridicule, I endure the heat.
Not that I always escape the ridicule. Tamar met me on the road today as I was going to the well. She crossed to the other side of the road, turning her face so she would not have to acknowledge my presence.
How can she – and they – judge me? I would like to see what they would do in my circumstances.
Life as a first-century Jewish woman is hard. I won’t go into it all here. It will take too many of my precious pages.
Then I got to the well. I am still reeling from the encounter.
I saw a Man sitting there. Not just any man, but a Jew.
But this Man was no ordinary Jew. He talked to me. Here was this Man – a Jew – asking for a drink from a woman – a Samaritan. Floored me.
In my surprise, I blurted that out. “How can a Jewish man be asking a Samaritan woman for a drink?”
He said the strangest thing. He started talking about living water — second surprising statement. I pointed out the obvious – He had no jug to draw any water from the well.
Third surprising statement – if He gave me this water, I would never thirst again. Of course, I asked for some. What it would mean to never have to go to the well again and risk ridicule!
He finally became socially correct – He asked me to go get my husband. Why does it always have to come back to that? How did this stranger know?
I was so surprised I answered truthfully. Good thing. He knew about all my husbands – and that Reuben isn’t my husband.
So, I changed the subject. Don’t we all do a good job of running and hiding at times?
The Man was obviously a prophet, so I asked Him something theological and confrontational. (Okay, I was kind of ticked. After He brought up the husband part, I was looking for a fight.)
He wasn’t confrontational. He talked about the future – salvation. He gave hope. He sounded like the Messiah. He said He was the Messiah!
The men traveling with the Man came. They did not question Him as to why He was talking to me.
I took that opportunity to go get the townspeople. Many of them believed, as I do, that the Man is the Messiah. The Savior has come!!!!!
I talked to the Messiah today. And more amazing, He talked to me! No ridicule. If I am honest, no confrontation. (What He said was true even if I didn’t want to hear it.) Just love. No, He was no ordinary Jew.
O Lord, the love You show to us! We don’t deserve it. Let us be like Jesus – not afraid to talk to someone different than us. Help us to not be confrontational. Help us to receive the living water and share it with all we know. Amen.
What do you think? In today’s society with the focus on diversity, do you think it is easier to talk to someone different than you than it used to be? Or is it harder? Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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