John 4: 7-14 the Woman of Samaria

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus *said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She *said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Most Christians understand that the Samaritans were a reproach to the Jews. The reason is that in former years, when the Jews were divided between the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah, Samaria was the capitol city of Israel. After they were defeated by Assyria the Israelites of the north scattered, and many married pagan men or women. For this reason, they were considered to be only a mixed Jewish race. In this story, Jesus isolates this Samaritan woman from even his own disciples, knowing that they would not welcome her. But he comes to her for the purpose of bringing salvation to this fragmented people. He does this by using something she is familiar with which is the well for water. He explains to her that just as that water brings temporal life, He, the Jewish Messiah, can bring everlasting life. Life is found in its source and Jesus is the only source God has provided for deliverance of his people.

Daily Prayer: Father, I understand that life is found in the Son alone and that apart from him there is no life, only spiritual and physical death. Yet today, many don't seem to get it. I have placed myself as your witness to the world who needs to know. By your Spirit, let my words fall on ears who understand and are changed as a result of your word and promises for believers. In Jesus name and for his sake I pray Amen.