The Woman at the Well (Finally)

It's hot. The sun is blazing down. It's the middle of the day.  The well is deserted, and for good reason. Most people fetch their water in the cool of the morning, not the scorching hours of noon. But those people are not like her. Those people pick and prod, and whisper. Their sneers and judgemental glances confirm her place in this crowd. She's a lowlife, a nothing, a waste.  So she waits. She waits until the crowd is gone and the well is deserted.  At least now she can draw her water without thier audible disgust.  But even as she goes day after day, all alone, the whispers in her soul never cease.  The pain she bears with this life's lot never leaves.  It's always there, always lingering, always jeering.  An empty shell, an aching heart, and a nameless face.

Today seems like all the rest. She trudges to the well to fetch the only thing that will cool her body and her thirst. But, today is different, she is not alone.  Today there is a man, a Jewish man, and he is sitting at her well.  Flustered and nervous, she approaches the well and begins to draw from it. Trying to blend in, to fade away, she tries her best not to bother him. And then, the unthinkable happens.  This highly esteemed, Jewish man speaks to her.  "Please give me a drink." He requests.  Taken aback, the woman replys in shock  "I am a Samaritan woman, you are a Jew. Why are you asking Me for a drink?" This man shouldn't even be looking at her, let alone talking to her.  To him, she is the lowest of low, the dirt beneath his sandals. And yet, he begins to engage her in conversation. 

"If you only knew the gift God has for you, and who you are speaking to, you would ask me and I would give you living water."  A gift? For her?  What is this living water he speaks of? Could this be the miracle she has been longing for all her life?  Hesitant, she inquires "But sir, how can you even get this water? You have no bucket, no rope. This well is of our great ancestor Jacob. Are you greater than he?"

"Anyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty. It becomes a fresh bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life"he responds.

Never be thristy again? She can't believe her ears. If she were to have this water, her bucket would always be full. She would never again have to face the heat of the day, the sneering faces, the disgust. Water that gives forth enternal life?! "Sir please!" she begs. "Let me have this water that I may never have to come to this well again!" Ancipation is growing, her heart is swollen within her chest, she can't believe her good fortune. And just as she begins to hope, a sharp pain pierces her soul.  "Go and get your husband." this man commands.  And at those words, her heart drops.  Her joy dissapates, her hope dims, and she is reminded of her worthlessness. She doesn't deserve this living water he speaks of, for she is but a dirty rag doll. 

With shifting eyes, and heavy heart she confesses "Sir, I have no husband." "You're right." he says. "You have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you are living with now. You have spoken the truth."

Shocked, she realizes he must be a prophet, for how else would he know these things?  What little pride she has is now gone. This Jewish man must be completely disgusted with her as well. Broken and ashamed, she is ready to return to her work alone. If he's not going to give her this water, she's wasting time.  She doesn't need another person to point out her situation. She already knows her demise, she doesn't need a lecture, she needs a Savior.

Embarassed and wounded, she deflects from her sin by inquiring about the proper place to worship. Her tatic worked, he didn't continue to prod at her pain, he just simply answered her question. He began talking about a day coming when all will worship in Spirit and in truth, that one day there will be no proper place of worship, for the spirit will be among them all.

Not wanting to debate any further, she remembers something that might conclude this conversation. So she states: "I know the Messiah is coming- the one who is called Christ. He will explain everything to us."

Thinking this meeting is over, she starts to draw up her bucket. But then, something happens. This man, this Jewish man, who has toyed with her emotions, who has promised her life, then pointed out her shame, and has now ended with a sermon on worship, looks at her.  He looks at her, really looks at her-this nameless face, this used up flesh, this broken heart.  His face lights up, his eyes are gentle, his voice is smooth and sweet, and he speaks:

"I AM the Messiah."

John 4:6-26

In that moment her life changed.  In that moment the pain of her past was erased, and she was filled with Christ's living water.  At that moment she inherited a father, a family, and a name. Jesus did not meet with that woman to point out her sin, to make her feel ashamed, or to give her a lesson on worship. No, Jesus had a divine meeting with that woman to revive her.  He knew that what this woman so longed for was 'living water." Water that would quench her soul, water that would bring her new life, and water that would wash away her pain.  I think in our lives it's easy for us to turn from Christ because we are ashamed of our sin, we don't want Him to make us feel "condemed" or "guilty." I think we do a pretty good job of feeling that way on our own.  Christ came to free us from sin, from that guilt. He came to heal our pain, not make it worse.  So today, I pray that you would let Christ have your pain. He already knows. He's just waiting to give you a long, cold, satisfying glass of living water.