Going God’s Way

Going God’s Way

Reading the Word

[Jesus] had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” (John 4:4–9)

Setting the Scene

Jews hated Samaritans because they weren’t pure-blooded Jews, having intermarried with Assyrians and other foreigners through the years after the nation’s exile. The Samaritans had adopted the Pentateuch as their Scriptures and had set up a place for worship on Mount Gerizim. They knew about a coming Messiah but were far from having an accurate knowledge of the truth.

Jacob’s well was highly valued by the Samaritans who claimed Jacob as their father, just as the Jews did. Jesus was thirsty because of the long walk and because noon would have been the hottest part of the day. Since Jesus did not have a container, he asked the woman for a drink. This request drew her into a conversation. Understandably, the woman was surprised that Jesus, a Jewish male, would speak to her and, even more shocking, that he would drink from her cup.

Getting Personal

Jesus crossed those barriers to strike up a conversation with this woman at the well. He wanted more than water—he was reaching a person in need. Jesus didn’t just happen to wander into Samaria, he chose to go there, to contact the Samaritans and give them the offer of eternal life. And by bringing the gospel to the despised Samaritans, Jesus was demonstrating that he didn’t hold the Jewish prejudices. Jesus continually reached out to all kinds of people—Jews, Samaritans, Gentiles, men, women, rich, poor, religious, and totally irreligious. Regardless of where you stand in society, Jesus comes to you and offers himself. He makes the first move.

• When have you been looked down upon for what you believe? How did you feel? How did you react?

Jesus sees each individual as someone who needs him. Nothing keeps Jesus from loving people and bringing them his good news. Nothing could keep Jesus from coming to us and dying for us, for you.

Jesus has come to your well, and he sees you—not as a race, nationality, gender, political party member, or any other social category but as someone who needs him, and he wants to come close to you.

Talking to God

Thank you, Jesus, for pursuing me, an outcast from many groups. Yet you love me. Forgive me for my prejudices against certain people, and help me cross those barriers that divide me from others.

Adapted from Life Application Study Bible Devotional by Dave Veerman and Neil Wilson (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2011), used by permission.