9. John 4:1-19 Jesus, the Giver of Living Water

 

Vs7-9:  Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.  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?”

VS 14: But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

 VS  17-19: “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet.

Jesus initiated a conversation with a Samaritan woman even though his actions violated the cultural and religious customs and norms of his day.  The woman was surprised because normally a Jewish man would consider a Samaritan woman to be unworthy of his time and attention. Jesus treated her with respect and dignity.

Jesus turned the conversation from the natural human need of physical water to the woman’s need of “living water”. In Israel’s history water was often employed in a metaphorical manner to refer to the cleansing from sin and the gift of new life (a Spirit empowered life).

"I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you."   (Ezekiel 36:25-26)

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants”
(Isaiah 44:3).
 
When Jesus saw that her thinking was stuck in the physical realm, he shifted the conversation to her spiritual and moral condition. When he revealed through a supernatural word of knowledge the truth about her personal life she immediately recognized that Jesus had the spiritual gift of a prophet.

Dear Jesus, thank you that you love all people without distinction. Thank you for showing me the value of loving people even when it might cost me some “social capital”.

Show me if I have any prejudicial attitudes towards any group or individual so I can quickly repent and begin to choose love over contempt and prejudice.
 
In Your name, I pray. Amen.