15 The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." - John 4:15 *NKJV)

Most of us have read the story of the Samaritan woman. We know some details about this woman and the kind of life she lived. While we might not know why she had had multiple husbands, we can learn something about her life that is probably missed. A lot of times we judge people without ever giving them a chance. And it's hard. It's a struggle for most of us. The minute we see someone that smokes or drinks or someone with a challenge that is not accepted socially, we dismiss them and deem them unfit to be apart of our society.

There are many interesting things to pick out from this story. But I want us to look at Jesus' position. Isn't it amazing how Jesus knows exactly what we need? Have you ever thought, how did Jesus know I needed to talk to this person? Or, how did He know that I'd be alright even after struggling for such a long time? Jesus deeply cares about us. And when we see how He interacts with others in the Bible, it should tell us that He wants to interact with us in the very same way. Jesus was able to have an intimate conversation with a woman who had been an outcast. He made Himself available at the expense of His own needs. 

6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." - John 4:6-7 (NKJV) 

Jesus had been travelling for some time and we do not know how many hours He had spent on His journey. What we do know however is that He was exhausted from His journey. Another thing is that, it was 12 noon at the time He sat at the well. The 6th hour in Jewish time is 12 noon. Also, the bible says, "Give me a drink." Jesus needed water, but if we read the whole story, neither Jesus nor the Samaritan draw water from the well. Ironic right? 

This tells us that a lot of times, our lives will be disrupted because of another person. Jesus left the comfort of Heaven to become human. Do you know how it feels to be human? We are human, we understand that being human, pardon my language, can sometimes suck! You have to have feelings. Sometimes we can be so happy, and at other times, we can be sad. Being human is hard. Jesus saw how we are are and still decided, "I want to be like them." 

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us - John 1:14 (NKJV) 

Jesus became flesh. That's why Jesus is the best mediator. He knows what it means to be human. He know what it means to be sad. He knows what it means to have struggles that are beyond what our vocal description can articulate. He understands the pain of abandonment. He knows the pain of rejection. He knows the pain of being labeled an 'outcast'. And that's why He could minister to the Samaritan woman. He understood what it meant to be human. 

What was in Samaria? 

4 But He needed to go through Samaria. - John 4:4 (NKJV)

Do you ever feel unseen or unheard sometimes? I think a lot of us come to such a point. Does God really hear my prayers? Does God understand what I am dealing with right now? Have you ever tried advising God? I know I have. "Why don't you do it this way God?" As humans, we'll always struggle with faith. Do you know why? Everything within us always wants to know what the next step is. We like to have plans. And there's nothing wrong with planning ahead. There's something within us that always wants us to see something happening. Having Faith goes against what we are familiar with. Faith requires us not to see as we see with our senses. Faith requires our having to believe in what God says. 

11 Now faith is the []substance of things hoped for, the []evidence of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Faith is challenging because it requires our having to abandon the tools we are used to having to navigate through life. Faith is believing strongly in God's word. We might not be where we want to be, but our Faith keeps us focused on Jesus. Focusing on our problems can be depressing. There are only so many things wrong with us. How many us feel like there are so many wrong things in our lives? That's why Jesus needed to go through Samaria. That's why Jesus needed to save you and I. That's why Jesus needed to place us in that place of worship. Jesus needed to do something that would later benefit us. We may not be at the level we'd love to be, but we have Jesus, the author and finisher of our Faith. Jesus is the writer of your story. He is not done with you. He is still refining us. He is still polishing us up. He is preparing us for the next chapter of our lives. But we have let Him write the story! 

Jesus knew that a Samaritan woman needed Him. He needed to go through Samaria. And that woman had no idea that on that day, her salvation would come. Hold on to Jesus. And everyday, just believe. To the Samaritan, it was just a normal day. She was just doing some of her daily duties. Unbeknownst to her, a savior had come. Her deliverer had come. Her rock had come. Her salvation had come. If Jesus knew what the Samaritan woman needed, what should us make us think Jesus cannot handle our difficulties? Jesus was going to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria. 

Jesus breaks all the barriers

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

10 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." - John 4:9-10 (NKJV)  

The racial tensions we might face today are not new. The cultural barriers and all kinds of social barriers we have today are not new. These are issues that even Jesus dealt with. The bible says, "how is it that you, being a jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" There was something wrong with this whole setup. There were many wrong things in fact. Jesus didn't mind breaking a few rules. There was something more important than cultural barriers. He didn't worry about the differences that existed between Jews and Samaritans. He was just ready to minister. He was just ready to do what the Father wanted Him to do. 

The Samaritan woman needed this more than she even knew. She was the only one drawing water at noon. Who draws water at 12 noon in the afternoon? It must have been hot. It makes sense why Jesus would be tired at that hour. Perhaps the Samaritan's lifestyle offended so many she had no friends. She had no one to speak with. She had no one to go to. She fetched water all by herself. She was an outcast. She was that woman that had many husbands. And as if that wasn't bad enough. She was also cohabiting with another man. What should have made Jesus turn away rather drew Him closer to the Samaritan woman. 

He heals the brokenhearted

And binds up their []wounds. - Psalm 147:3 (NKJV)   

Jesus sees everything. And while sometimes it may look like we have been abandoned, we should see that Jesus wants us healed from anything and everything that binds us. One conversation, and the life of the Samaritan woman changed. 

27 And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why are You talking with her?" - John 4:27 (NKJV) 

During Jesus' times, it was unacceptable for a man to speak to a woman privately. That's why His disciples expressed their shock. Just look at what Jesus was willing to do just to minister to the needs of one person. One of the ways we can enjoy our salvation is when we make the word of God personal. Jesus didn't save us because there were so many people that He needed to die for. He died for you as an individual. He died for me as an individual. And He can minister to you as an individual. We mean that much to Jesus. 

Off She goes

The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29 "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" - John 4:28-29 (NKJV)

When Jesus heals us, it affects everyone else. That's why we have to be very deliberate about the choices we make everyday. We may not see how our decisions affect others. But how we live and what we to do affects so many other people. Jesus died, and His death sprung forth our salvation. Our lives may affect at least one person. The Samaritan woman was now bold enough to appear before other people. At first, it's just Jesus and her. And now, so many other people received salvation. 

Jesus shows us that sometimes we have to be radical about what we believe. Jesus was able to bring two cultures that had hated each other together. And it happened through one outcast. There are so many things that God deposited in you. That's why you shouldn't give up. What if you're the solution to your family? What if you are the next pastor of the community you live in? Whatever problems we might have that seem to bring us shame, there's freedom in Christ Jesus; who will do anything to have us restored.  

A prayer for salvation

If you are not saved and would like to be saved, you can pray this prayer. And if we are already saved and would love to re-dedicate our lives to Christ, we can also pray this prayer. 

Lord Jesus, I thank you that you died for me. That you gave yourself on the cross, a death of agony and shame to purchase me. And Lord, I belong to you. I am yours forever. I know you will never leave me. You will never forsake me. I am etched upon the palm of your hand. I am beautiful in your eyes. More beautiful than all worlds you created, because you love me, Lord, I love you. Receive my love as I give it to you now. I give myself afresh to you right now. I thank you that I'm not unwanted. I'm not unworthy. I'm not rejected. I am accepted in the Beloved in you, Lord Jesus. I am accepted. Thank you, thank you, thank you again and again! Thank you for that wonderful love that you poured out on the cross. Thank you, Lord.