A Conversation That Changed Everything

I have always been drawn to the encounter that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman that came to the well to draw water. The story is told in the book of John, chapter 4.

Jesus and the disciples were going from Judea back to Galilee and had to pass through Samaria. When they came to Jacob’s well, Jesus was tired and sat down. The disciples went into the city to get food, leaving Jesus alone. While he was there a woman of Samaria came to draw water.

Recently I was thinking about this event and my mind went to when he told her she had no husband. There had been several husbands in her lifetime and currently she was living with a man. I really hadn’t noticed before but he didn’t accuse her of being an absolutely disgusting and immoral person. He didn’t call her a whore, which in the eyes of her community, she was. Rather he lovingly spoke what was factual and He offered her living water, refreshment for the soul, healing for all the hurts.

What an example to live by! What love!

This speaks to me. Nowhere does he engage in brow beating this woman. Nowhere are there any accusations or a demonstration of a superior attitude. Nowhere does he demand she change anything about her life, her circumstances or her attitudes.

So often we can get so eager to help people “do better”, “be healed”, or “see the light” that we rush ahead to the goal of what must feel like to some, “fixing a problem”, instead of “loving a person”. Not so with Jesus. Every word he spoke to this woman is filled with respect and tenderness.

"You were right when you say you have no husband."

She seems embarrassed. She tries to change the subject. She says, "Our fathers worshiped in these mountains, you Jews worship in Jerusalem." She tried to turn the conversation from the spiritual need of her heart to the religious reality of her culture. Jesus was attempting to get her to see her need of forgiveness and she shifts the conversation to religion. Often I see people doing exactly the same. They see only the "religion" and not the salvation that comes from Father's love. But the true topic was salvation. And her heart hears the message. She says, "I know Messiah is coming. When He comes He will explain everything to us."

"I who speaks to you am he."

What’s amazing to me is she did not doubt or argue, she did not question. She just believed. It all became clear. Love does that. Here was the Messiah, who told her everything she had done! Not in judgment, but in mercy and with an offering of cleansing and forgiveness.

The heart of this woman, who came to the well to quench physical thirst, found the living water of forgiveness and mercy and never thirsted again.

No more being afraid of being alone. No more being afraid of being at the mercy of her circumstances. No more feeling like she had to defend herself to those who would judge her. But most of all there was no more need to make compromises with the world to survive. And it was all because the one who could fix her and the one who could demand things needed to be fixed refused to do so. Rather he calmly and gently told her the truth with deep respect and offered her the living water of unyielding love. And that changed everything. It changes how you view things when you know that you’re loved.

For me it’s reassuring to know that Father knows all about me and that He loves me anyway. He comes and offers living water but never demands that I drink. But when I choose to drink I am forever changed by the encounter.