woman at the well – Rev. Tim Ehrhardt

So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

“I have no husband,” she replied.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.

They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (New International Version)

Samaritan Woman and Jesus at the Well, by He Qi

Samaria, back in Christ’s day, was viewed by many as an infamous place, full of untrustworthy people who were a mongrel mix of Jewish and ancient Assyrian blood. And their religion was most suspect of all – an unholy blend of Jewish and Gentile practices. So, no respectable Jewish person ever got near Samaria or even talked with a Samaritan.

Jesus, however, saw things differently. He did not avoid the territory but confidently walked through Samaria. Christ had no problem stopping to rest on his journey in a foreign area. That’s because Jesus didn’t class people into groups, nor did he attach adjectives to people, such as “those” Samaritans. He had no obstacles between himself and others.

Which is why an organic conversation happened between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. Christ simply saw a human being who happened to be a woman and a Samaritan. He acknowledged both her gender and her ethnicity without those being a problem. Not even Christ’s knowledge of her string of husbands was an issue in conversing with her.

Every time I read this narrative of Jesus interacting with the Samaritan woman, I imagine what all the non-verbal communication was like. I’m sure the conversation was as much about Christ’s affect, gestures, and tone of voice, as it was his well-placed words. I fully believe both his verbal and non-verbal communication was perfectly congruent with each other, giving the woman a compelling sense that her ultimate needs could be met with the living well of a person in front of her.

Water gives life. And Jesus, as living water, gives new life. A bunch of failed relationships testified to the woman’s dissatisfaction. Even though we hear no more about her after this story in the Bible, we as readers get the overwhelming sense that the woman finally found satisfaction. The love which kept slipping through her fingers now had staying power.

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37-38, NIV)

We need the living water of Jesus as a river flowing straight from him to us — replenishing, renewing, sustaining, and breaking through every barrier in its path like a mighty flood overcoming and pushing everything out of the way that blocks its path so that our love can overflow onto all sorts of people, like a Samaritan woman.

The disciples come along, seemingly confused about this scene of Jesus and a Samaritan woman. So they blurt out something like the stereotypical mother concerned for her son saying, “Sit down and eat some of Mama’s pasta. You need some food!” As if preparing and serving a meal will make everything better.

Food has both the power to bring us together, as well as separate us. A meal can create the conditions for fellowship, acceptance, and enjoyment. On the other hand, sitting down to eat can also be a way to avoid painful emotions, and so, becomes an obstacle, keeping love at bay.

The disciples were uncomfortable and maybe a bit stressed. Looking to fill up with food instead of with God, their sense of unfulfillment was coming out sideways by opening the pantry and looking for comfort food. Jesus saw through the situation and put the focus on the disciples’ spiritual hunger.

Paying attention to our vocation and discovering humble work in the service of God, rather than a vacation to the fridge to cover unwanted feelings, is the essence of Christ’s interaction with his disciples.

People are much more ready for the gospel than we think. There are times we can become insular, lost within our own heads, that we are then unable to see the world as ripe for a harvest of people who are eager to be gathered into a community of redemption and love.

Jesus had a significant interaction with the Samaritan woman – despite the social prohibitions of the time. Shenanigans like this, by Christ, got a lot of people’s undies in a bundle. The disciples, having a front seat to most of Christ’s ways, did a few too many palms to the forehead, believing their Rabbi’s behavior was going to make him unpopular. They feared no one would follow him.

Looks like the disciples didn’t quite get that one right.

The Samaritan woman received Jesus as Living Water, having her ultimate needs met by the Lord of all. The disciples hadn’t quite caught up to this, so fell back on their old ways of physical food and drink to assuage the awkward uncomfortable feelings happening inside them.

The woman became a wellspring of good news to her community. Whereas the disciples eventually became a fountain of the gospel after Christ’s death and resurrection, they are here only an annoying drip from the kitchen faucet. A non-descript ethnically suspect woman of dubious character coming to faith was meant by Jesus to open the disciples’ eyes to a new reality:

The good news of Christ is meant for the world, not just Jewish men.

The disciples were given the opportunity to participate a mission of bringing the love of God where love wasn’t present, of helping all kinds of people awaken to the deep spirituality within them, of lifting their downcast faces of guilt and shame to see the Living God bless the world with the body and blood of Jesus.

All of our work, no matter how big or small, is made possible by God, the great Chef of the universe. God has done all the preparations of chopping the onions, mincing the garlic, slicing the carrots, and peeling the potatoes so that we, his followers, can make a savory stew of diverse people sharing a common pot of God’s love and hospitality. It is, therefore, our privilege to be the wait staff who serves the meal to a whole host of persons.

O God, you made us in your own image, and you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

why god

“Why, God!?” is a refrain expressed by all kinds of people and, most likely, by you at some point in your life. That’s because we all face suffering, on some level. The circumstances might vary from person to person, but we all have been touched by this fallen world and experience some sort of brokenness.

Brokenness of either/both body and soul comes in all shapes and sizes. Yes, it sometimes is the result of our own foolish and/or self-destructive choices. But sick bodies, broken spirits, and damaged souls are just as likely to occur simply because we live in this world that’s askew from how it should be. In other words, sometimes we really are victims of disease, accidents, natural disasters, and mysterious evil that we have trouble putting a name to.

In such situations, it’s very normal of the human condition to cry: “Why, God!?” I like honesty, and this is an honest question. Personally, I don’t “poo-poo” people who are frank and sincere with God. Yes, sometimes that question is only rhetorical – not really asking a question but expressing anger. That’s okay, too, because God is more than big enough to handle a question asked in frustration, even rage. Even a cursory reading of the book of Psalms reveals David’s emotions of not understanding many of his situations and exactly what he’d like to see happen. Sometimes he pukes some awfully raw feelings onto God – and those emotionally charged words made their way as being a part of the Bible.

I get it. Suffering is an unwanted companion, and we’d like to send it packing and have nothing to do with it. Yet, suffering and the evil it can wreak is not outside the purview of God. As heinous and as powerful as suffering might manifest itself, it is never beyond God’s capacity to touch it with resurrection power.

The answer to our “why?” question is, frankly, not usually answered – and even if it does get answered, sometimes we don’t like what we hear. I want to make an observation about the New Testament Gospels and the life of Jesus, and I want you to consider it for a moment. The observation is this:

Jesus never explained evil and suffering.

Christ did not send out fliers and emails for a seminar on suffering from a divine perspective to be held at the downtown Jerusalem Hilton. Instead, Jesus, the supreme Pastor, was present with people in their pain and wondering. Jesus Christ did not provide cerebral answers to questions; he asked his own questions and filled people with God’s grace, forgiveness, and love.

Jesus encountered people in their concrete real-live struggles and trouble, and, when a group of five-thousand people were hungry, he asked, “Who will feed them?” and when folks were struggling with how to make ends-meet, “Where is your treasure?” and to those with misplaced values, “What does it profit?” Christ’s questions were designed to shepherd and lead people toward a path of healing, not necessarily a way of being cured. Jesus Christ’s words and actions were meant to show people that he himself is the path toward peace, healing, and, sometimes, even the perceived need to be healed.

In the encounter with a Samaritan woman, Jesus, the Pastor, comes along and has a lengthy conversation with her that began with talking about getting a drink of water on a hot day and ends with the woman being in touch, maybe for the first time, with her deepest need of being accepted, loved, and satisfied. Sometimes I chuckle over some scholars and writers pouring over this story in John’s Gospel, trying to find the secret sauce or discernible outline to speaking with people in need of emotional and spiritual healing or enlightenment. Yet, again, I’ll just make a simple observation about the story:

Jesus put love where love was not.

woman at the well

The woman did not have love from the Jews because she was a “half-breed” Samaritan. Furthermore, she had a string of loveless marriages and was with a man who apparently was just using her. Then, Jesus showed up. He abandoned all contemporary Jewish convention by speaking with a Samaritan woman. He put his agenda on hold. He was fully present to her. He asked questions and took the time to listen. And then he extended to her the kind of love that she desperately needed. Drinking water from a deep well became a powerful metaphor and picture of cleansing and refreshment to a dry and parched soul that had not known love for a very long time. Jesus changed her life. He put love where love was not (John 4:1-42).

So, let’s wheel back around to the question of “why?” and “why” we ask it in the first place. Typically, we want a fix. We’re broken, and it’s a big enough mess that the only repair person is God. God, however, doesn’t feel the same anxiety we do about the dilemma (in fact, he doesn’t have any worry at all). Instead, God does something we usually don’t expect. He sends someone to care, and another to help, and yet another to pray, and even more to meet various needs. Behind the scenes, far from our fear-laden hearts, the Lord of the universe is paying attention to us and orchestrating a massive campaign of love.

In those times when it seems chaos will win the day, and in those seasons when evil appears to have the high ground, please know that there is a God in heaven who sees your life and is personally writing a protest song against the injustice and unfairness of what is happening. And Christ’s resurrection is at the center of that song. When it’s sung, it will melt fear, cause demons to flee, and create transformation in ways that you would never have seen coming. Where we are looking for a supernatural miracle, God is eyeing to bring common ordinary people to your doorstep with a basket full of love.

When Jesus left this earth, here is exactly what he wanted his followers to know going forward:

“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).

The ever-present love of Christ shall never leave you, nor forsake you. You can count on it. Allow your “why” question to turn into a “who” question. “Who” will be with me to the end, will pour his love into my heart, and will hold me up when I can’t stand anymore? Every path leads to one infinite source of living water: Jesus Christ. It is to him that you and I are to find our peace and our rest.