Jesus
and the Samaritan Woman: a Familiar Story with applications you may not have
seen before.
If you are reading, this you probably are
familiar with the story. Let’s take a dive into it so we can find more of WHAT MAKES
JESUS TICK.
Jesus is resting at the well at noon.
They had been walking all morning and He was tired. This reminds us that the
God of the universe loves mankind so much He came to experience “humanness.”
Jesus is 100% God and was 100% man at the same time.
His Divine insight into her heart
kicks in as he sees the woman approaching the well. Perhaps His thought was
something like this, (I know mine would have been), “How do I start a
conversation with her? I will show her the fix for her broken heart, show her
how to find acceptance, and the value of life”. Whether He did or not, He
accomplishes that goal beginning by simply asking for a drink of water, a
normal thing to ask for on a hot afternoon in a desert place. A simple
conversation starter, but He used it to knock at the door to her heart (see Revelation.
3:20).
John 4:9b
…She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are
you asking me for a drink?”
There was great animosity between Jews
and Samaritans at that time and she immediately puts this request into that racial
context. Jesus had no intention of going where she was headed. Instead, Jesus
changes the topic in order to begin letting her know who she was talking to. Jesus
is setting her up for a mind blowing conversation.
John 4:11 “But
sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep.
Where would you get this living water?
Her response in verse 11 makes it
obvious she had no clue as to what He was talking about in verse 10. Jesus takes
her down a short path to the revelation of who He is. Having failed to get the
conversation into a racial dispute she tries to get into a religious context,
John 4:12
And besides, do you think you’re
greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer
better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
Jesus refuses to go there either. He’s
taking her beyond the limitations of her experience, her upbringing or any of
her life experience. He’s drawing her from totally carnal existence (death) to
Spiritual realities leading to eternal life.
John 4:13
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks
this water will soon become thirsty again.
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.”
That statement must have absolutely blown
her mind. Now the hunger of her heart begins to surface, but her plea is
shrouded by her still carnal way of thinking.
15 “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.”
She was getting close but needed a
little more to get past her brain. She’s ready; it’s time to do something
supernatural. Jesus baits her again by telling her things about herself that there
was no way of knowing unless God is in the picture.
John 4:16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband,
18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t
even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
Trying to get the conversation within
her comfort zone, she asks a question about petty religious differences. Jesus
avoids this trap and steers the conversation to where she asks about the
Messiah. Now He has her mind and heart ready to receive the revelation of Who
He is and she will have no doubt.
John 4:25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is
coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything
to us.”
26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”
We can surmise that this woman had
been living under a dark cloud, searching for acceptance and happiness. She had
so many failed marriages, probably kids with different fathers. Now Jesus lifts
the weight, she found the God who loves her, accepts her and revealed Himself
to her. So excited she ran back to town and brings back many people to meet
Him.
Now we see a big part of what makes
Jesus tick.
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| https://www.theschooloflife.com/ thebookoflife/walking-in-the-woods/ |
I don’t know about you but I do not
have the capability to spontaneously come up with such a perfect strategy. Using
the spiritual gifts of the Word of Knowledge and the Word of Wisdom, the Lord
takes us step by step, giving us the right things to say. The takeaway is
the absolute necessity for us to walk in the Spirit and hear His voice and
obey. Often it is one small step at a time. (see
1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
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| https://www1.cbn.com/file/killing-jesus-crowd-childrenlsjpg |
The Message Spreads and The Town Meets Their Messiah Too
Following this conversation we
discover that the Lord had greater intent than just her salvation. Her
excitement over the way the Lord began to change her heart drives her to get
back to town and tell everyone what she just experienced with Jesus.
John 4: 28 Then, leaving
her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,
29 “Come,
see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
30 They
came out of the town and made their way toward him.
Just based on her telling of them that
Jesus supernaturally told her all about herself they all came out to check this
guy out for themselves. They were so hungry for truth they asked him to hang
around and tell them more. Jesus demonstrated His priority of their salvation
over His getting where He was going by accepting their invitation to stay
longer. The disciples with Him saw that drawing souls to the Kingdom of God is
more important than our agendas. The Bible doesn’t describe what all transpired
over those 2 days other than,
John 4:42 They
said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we
have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the
world.”
How many more supernatural
manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit may have there been? How many miracle
healings? How many dysfunctional families were set on the path of restoration?
We’ll never get answers to these questions, and they don’t really matter, but its
fun to let your imagination wander to such a place. All that matters is that
Jesus did whatever it took for a town full of people to know that He is, “is
the Savior of the world.”
PRAYER: Lord, lead
us into these spontaneous Divine Encounters. Direct our words so that it’s
really Your words that do not return void but accomplish your full intention.
Let your anointing so rest upon us that we see the heart of who we communicate
with and respond with your prophetic gifts of the Spirit to lead them to you. Discipline
us to walk in tune with Your Spirit continuously.
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