Day 33: A Man and Much More

John 4:4-10 : He needed to pass through Samaria. So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

We learn a great deal about Jesus by taking a close look at this passage. For one, Jesus not only stopped in Samaria, but He decided to sit down and start chatting with Samaritans. We find out right here in the text that Jews didn’t believe in associating with Samaritans. Obviously, Jesus did. This speaks volumes about Jesus. He really was for the world not just for the Jews, although much of His ministry on earth last time was focused on the Jews according to God’s plan. Ultimately, Jesus knew that He would be for the whole world as John speaks a great deal about in this book.

Let’s back up a little bit. Notice that it says that Jesus was tired from His journey. Jesus was human. He knew what it was like to get tired. Notice that it is ok for us to sit down by wells and rest. God knows that we need rest. This is another part that shows that Jesus was not a spirit or a phantom as some have said.

It is very interesting to me how Jesus starts up a deeper conversation. Just like when He was talking to Nicodemus, He starts to use unusual word pictures such as “living water.” He tells her that she should be the one asking for water from Him. Again, Jesus takes an authoritative tone and starts to tell her what she should do. It is interesting that Jesus never drops His authority just because people don’t want to hear it.

Some people accept his authority, others don’t, but He continues to say what He should say. You can read ahead to find out how this woman reacted to such bold talk.