March 6th

John 4:5-42
Barb Virgil

Jesus and the Woman of Samaria

When Jesus leaves Judea to go back to Galilee, he has to pass through Samaria. Thirsty and tired, he stops at a well in the city of Sychar. It is about noon, and a woman comes to the well to draw water. Though Jews and Samaritans did not share things in common, Jesus asks the woman for a drink of water. Hesitant, but inquisitive and open to learning more about who this man is and why he seems to know about her, their conversation continues until she is convinced he is able to give “living water”. She believes in the Messiah, and Jesus, for the first time, proclaims I am He.
Excitedly she goes to get others to come and hear him. Meanwhile…the disciples have arrived and intend to feed Jesus. Jesus must instruct them that he is at work doing the will of him who sent him. He recites a parable highlighting what seems obvious to him, “look around you and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.” “The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life.”
Fortunately, many Samaritans believed the woman’s testimony and they desired to hear more about and from Jesus. He stayed with them for 2 days. Many more believed because of his word. They said, “it is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”
Wow! This is a wonderful scripture. It illustrates how Jesus took every opportunity to evangelize and teach. He clearly understood what he was intended to do and how he was to go about it. He had no doubt about who was doing the leading in this work…it was coming directly from God.
The Samaritan woman’s existing belief, in the promise of the coming of a Messiah, laid the foundation for the words Jesus spoke. Because of the testimony the woman shared, others believed…at least enough to want to hear for themselves.
This encounter was no accident. God prepares us to speak and to hear about his plans for us. Evangelism and Testimony are essential in bringing the kingdom of God on earth.