Read John 4:1-42 – “The Samaritan Woman”

Devotion:

Allow me to set the scene for this beautiful gospel story. Jesus was sitting alone near Jacob’s well when a woman from the nearby village arrived to draw water. He was tired because he and his band of disciples had been traveling through Samaria on their way to Galilee. When Jesus saw her, he asked her for a drink. Now, at this point in the story, there are several red lights blinking in the minds of the original readers that we do not see at all. The very fact that Jesus and his disciples were there would have been surprising. Most Jewish travelers would have chosen a different road, one that bypassed Samaria, because of the long history of strife between the two people groups. But John records that Jesus “had to pass through Samaria.” Odd. John also mentions the time of day, about noon, when a woman appeared at the well to draw water. Unusual, because most women chose the cooler hours of early morning for gathering water, a mundane task requiring manual labor. Finally, Jesus spoke to her. Weird. To this day, middle eastern sensibilities do not permit a man to speak to a woman he does not know, especially when they are alone. The whole narrative setup is just strange. Later, when the disciples return, they are shocked to see Jesus speaking to a woman. She does not hide her surprise. “How is it that you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”  

What follows is one of the most remarkable, deeply spiritual, and paradigm-shifting conversations recorded in Scripture. It is also an illustration of what we are highlighting in this year’s lenten readings: the Paschal Mystery. It is the mystery of life that comes from death, or put another way, resurrection. When we read the Gospels through this lens, it appears in many ways. When normal people are confronted with the unique person of Jesus, they often have to “let go” of something—usually a belief or idea to which they cling—in order to receive the new life that Jesus has for them. The Samaritan woman (we never learn her name) arrived at Jacob’s well with an empty jar, hoping for enough water to get her through the day. She had to “leave her jar behind” in order to receive something much better, a fountain of living water springing up to eternal life. She had to let go of her idea of how and where to worship God, in other words, her religion. She was ready to argue with this Jewish rabbi about whether it should be on “our mountain (Gerizim), or yours (Zion).” Jesus assured her that the time was past for all of that. “The time is coming—and is now here—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

Throughout his gospel, John uses the special name of God, “I AM” to announce Jesus as the Messiah. To this woman with a questionable backstory, Jesus says it plainly for the very first time; “I, who speak to you, am he.” In sharp and deliberate contrast to Nicodemus, the Pharisee who came to Jesus at night in John 3, this Samaritan (read unclean) woman responded to Jesus at high noon. While Nicodemus’ mind was clouded, “How can this be?” (John 3:9), her mind was nimble and open, and she had eyes to see. She abandoned her water jar to take up her calling, running to evangelize her village. People who knew her and her story came to see what she saw, and they believed what she believed—that Jesus really was the Savior of the world (John 4:42)

PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for pausing to talk to me today. Please be patient with me while the light of your presence continues to dawn on me. Show me the ideas, beliefs, and convictions that need to be reevaluated in light of your presence with me. Allow me to set them down, like the woman’s water jar, so that I may receive the fountain of life that you have for me. Amen. 

Deidre Franklin
Pastor of Spiritual Formation

Deidre Franklin is the Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Crossings OKC. She is passionate about cultivating sacred space in which people can experience the power and presence of God

Artwork: “Be Still” by Skip McKinstry, the artist who created the collection of art featured in our 2023 Lent devotions.

Practice:

Read John 4 again, placing yourself in the scene, either as a bystander or the person at the well. 

• How would you respond to a similar interruption to your daily routine?
• Are you ready to open your heart and mind to the deeper life Jesus has for you? What does that invitation look like for you?
• What assumptions or beliefs have you had to reconsider, maybe even surrender?
• What, if anything, have you had to leave behind?

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