When I read the story of the woman at the well in John 4: 1-42. There are many issues that arise within this wonderful story. Here is a quick glimpse of some of those issues based on my research in the NIV Application Commentary and The New American Commentary.
The reason I tell you this is so that you know I didn’t come up with these ideas myself and that as a Bible Teacher I always refer to the work of experts in their fields. I can’t just rely on my own opinion. I need help with everything; especially when teaching God’s word. Here are 7 quick points to ponder.
1—The people in the story focused on the natural elements in life, rather than the supernatural elements in life. This is seen when we look at the Pharisee’s, the disciples, and the woman.
2—The woman avoided the everyday people in her life, because of her sin. That’s why she was at the well by herself at noon. She had a bad reputation with 5 past husbands and her current common law partner.
3—The people in the nearby town come to believe in Jesus, because this woman was confronted with her sin and immediately shared the good news of Christ.
4—Many people in the nearby town believed in Jesus because the woman was set free from her sin and immediately shared this good news.
5—The humanity of Jesus is clearly seen in this story, because He sat down at the well after being tired from walking in the heat of the day.
6—Jesus crossed many cultural boundaries by talking with this woman. Why? Single men rarely talked to woman, never mind Samaritan women. Jesus was seen as a Rabbi and Rabbi’s didn’t talk to everyday people about these serious issues of theology. Jews didn’t talk to Samaritans, because of the long history of political and religious tension.
7—This last point I want to make is my main point. When Jesus offers this woman “Living Water” it refers to more than Jesus being that water. It refers to more than Jesus being the Messiah that the Jews and Gentiles were waiting for. It also referred to the fact that in these desert regions such as Sychar there were wells or springs, rather than running water, such as water that comes from a river or creek.
When living in these desert regions having water or not having water was the difference between life and death. Having water and not having water was the difference between living and dying. Having water and not having water was the difference between survival and not surviving. So, when we see Jesus using the term “Living Water” it has two meanings. It has a spiritual meaning, which meant that those who believed in Him would never thirst again, which was something that the prophet Isaiah also referred to in Isaiah 55:1, which says, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” Yet, it also meant that He was referring to the blessings of running water which wasn’t seen in the desert.
Jesus was sitting at a well in the desert talking to a Samaritan woman, because He was offering something that no one else could offer. No one else could make this offer of “Living Water.” Those who accepted this offer of “Living Water” would have their lives changed and their hearts healed, just like the woman. Just like the people from the nearby town.
This woman avoided people in the past, but now she was an evangelist. This woman was looked down upon, but now she was being used as an instrument of change. This woman was thirsty, but now she was filled with this “Living Water” that overfills a life, once it takes over that life. This “Living Water” heals the hearts that are broken. This “Living Water” drastically changed this woman and many others and it can also change you if you take Jesus up on His invitation.
Start this year off with taking a drink of this “Living Water” and drink deep of His love for you. Drink deep of this water, that runs from the cross straight to your heart. Healing, everything, in your life that is broken.
Parry Stelter is originally from Alexander First Nation and is founder of Word of Hope Ministries and lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
