- Demeta Levatte
- Jul 30, 2022
- 5 min read
Before I entered a relationship with Jesus, my knowledge of Him was minimal. Granted, I knew He was born of the virgin Mary and died on the cross for my sins. But that was the extent of my knowledge well into my adult life. I was unaware He was the World's Savior through whom I could have eternal life.
Given the Samaritan woman's background, she likely encountered Christ in her later years, so I'll highlight some insights I gleaned from her story.
1. Jesus wants to save us at every opportunity.
Jesus immediately opens a discussion at the well with the Samaritan woman. To initiate conversation, He asks her for a drink. She said,
"How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews do not associate with Samaritans." (John 4:9)
This question provided an opportunity for Jesus to present the Gospel; thus, He replied,
"If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would ask him, and he would give you living water." (John 4:10)
Jesus wasn't concerned with the woman's identity or background; this was irrelevant. Notice we don't even know her name. Nor was it about her giving Him a drink. What was important was who He was and what He could provide her. The hostile relationship between the Jews and Samaritans was not to stand in the way.
God's redemption is available to everyone, and He wants everyone to know about His gift.
2. The more interaction with Jesus, the more He reveals.
The Samaritan lady encounters Jesus at the well and immediately perceives Him as a Jew. She was unaware the man asking for a drink would later pour out His blood on the cross for her. Not until she continues her interaction with Him does she realize He isn't just a Jew.
She discovers He's also a prophet and the Messiah. She could come to this conclusion based on some revealing statements He made:
"For you've had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true," (John 4:18)
As a side note, Jesus didn't highlight her sins to condemn or deny her the gift of salvation; instead, it was her sins that qualified her.
The woman said to Jesus,
“Sir, I see that you are a prophet…” (John 4:19)
In the exchange below, it also gets revealed He's the Messiah:
"I know that the Messiah is coming"(who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Jesus told her, "I, the one speaking to you, am he." (John 4:25-26)
As the woman continues to engage Jesus with her comments and questions, He discloses more and more of His identity to her. Some of His remarks were straightforward, while others were subtle.
Regular interaction with Jesus is necessary for understanding truth, Him, and His character. Engagement through Bible reading, prayer, study, worship, meditation, fasting, and listening to the Holy Spirit are ways to open the lines of communication.
3. God is our provider; He is what we need and knows what we need.
“Sir,” said the woman, “you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. So where do you get this ‘living water’? You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock.” (John 4:11-12)
Jesus said,
“Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well, of water springing up in him for eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)
Jesus is, without question, greater than her ancestral father, Jacob, and all earthly fathers combined. However, the lady questions Jesus' ability to provide the water since the well was deep, and He didn't even have a bucket. But Jesus is God in the flesh who can supply all our needs.
Water is a vital resource. Yet, man can fulfill an earthly need but for a limited time. Jacob's well could only satisfy the people temporarily before they'd thirst and need water again. Jesus implied the true need wasn't for physical water from a physical well but eternal water from a spiritual well.
As their father, Jacob, gave the people a well from which to drink, God, the Father, provides believers an internal well from which to drink.
Jesus is the source from which living water flows. Living water is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. To access the living water, we must accept God’s gift of salvation by acknowledging Jesus as our Lord and Savior. When believers accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells and transforms them, gushing forth new life (living water) so they never experience spiritual thirst (spiritual lack) again.
What Jesus provides is far superior to Jacob’s well.
4. The true worship of God is in the Spirit, not a location.
"Sir," the woman replied, "I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem." (John 4:19-20)
The woman’s statement reveals her heart. She was concerned with whether Mount Gerizim or the Jerusalem Temple was the properly designated place for worship, overlooking that true worship begins in the individual spirit.
Thus, Christ responded,
"…But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth." (John 4:22-24)
God is not limited to a structure. Jesus commands us to worship not only through outward expressions of devotion, like church assemblies in buildings, but also in Spirit and in truth. In other words, true worship flows from the leading of the Holy Spirit within each believer—regardless of location—and is rooted in adherence to God's Word, not in man’s traditions and rules.
However, this doesn't suggest church attendance is unnecessary. It wasn't until I began attending a Bible-centered church with other believers some years after baptism, that I began experiencing spiritual growth.
Conclusion
The gift of eternal life is found in Jesus, our (water) source, and He desires a personal relationship with every one of us, no matter who we are.
Everyone has access to salvation. When we accept redemption, God treats us equally by giving us His Spirit, so we never experience spiritual lack again.
He understands our needs better than we do and can provide them all.
Get to know God through His Word, the Bible — He is not only a Jew, a prophet, or the Messiah. He's the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, worthy of true praise.
I'm thankful to have finally met Jesus at the well. If you haven't already, will you meet Him there?
Disclaimer: While this writing aims to reinforce the teachings found in the Scriptures and assist you in living a godly life, it is important to acknowledge that the Bible is the ultimate and primary source for all aspects of holy living, maturity, growth, fruitfulness, and more. The Bible contains everything necessary to achieve wholeness and be fully equipped for every good work. This secondary resource is only intended to supplement and support your understanding, providing additional insights for your journey.