“Being Drawn into the Depths of Christ – John 4”
This famous scene from Christ’s ministry captures in a single moment what actually can be a lifelong endeavor. What a privilege for the Samaritan woman? What an encounter? How amazing to see this dynamic unfolding as they meet and talk.
First off, we see racial, gender and societal differences handled with great sensitivity and care. A perfect example of Christ meeting her where she’s at and speaking truth in love. He displays great compassion as He approaches her, simply by speaking to her. This woman with a messy past, laying low from glaring eyes and whispering judgments. A woman who is alone. Jesus approaches her with a question. He doesn’t ignore her because it’s awkward. Because she’s different or has a past. He doesn’t even engage with her in a demanding, arrogant tone. He comes to her at a common place- the well, asking for water.
He seeks her out, approaching her gently in humble surprise. I wonder what she must’ve thought? It is clear she’s shocked that a Jewish man would even give her attention at all, let alone ask her for a need.
So here, in this initial meeting, she identifies Him as a Jew, a known enemy, who disdained Samaritans. She points this out asking:
“How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans)” John 4:9 NIV
As she responds with this challenge, He then draws her out.
“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?’” John 4:10-11
And Jesus answers, “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.” John 4:14-15
We see Jesus progressing from His approach towards an invitation to receive the gift He has to offer. Now Jesus is no longer a threat, just a man who is speaking to her. (Sir)
I find it interesting that Jesus meets her at the well – place where one must dig down deep to draw water in order to satisfy a thirst. I have often pondered just how deep the chasms of my own heart have been in times of hurt, depression, fear or insecurity. Why does it feel bottomless sometimes? And why must it constantly gurgle over, plaguing my life? To think that Jesus seeks to dig down into the worst places of my heart and pour the waters of His reviving Spirit within is HOPE. This is what He is offering the Samaritan woman. This is what He offers all of us. How can we not want this? How can we not want to refresh our thirsty souls?
Then Jesus gets right to the point and asks about her current condition.
“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.” John 4:16-18
We won’t be able to find everlasting refreshing until we identify the condition we’re in. This woman has been in and out of relationships with different men. Either chasing or trapped in emptiness; maybe both. And now she meets one who has seen her. One who somehow knows this and can bring it out into the open. Who can do that but God? Jesus is no longer viewed as a threat our just “a man”. Now Jesus is recognized as a prophet. And she asks….
“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.” John 4:20-24
“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.” John 4:25-26
From her statement, Jesus unpacks the distorted understanding the Samaritans have because of the history of blended worship among the pagans around them. He zones in on the promised salvation that would come from the Jewish nation. But really the place and history of worship aren’t even what it’s about. It’s about worshipping in Spirit and Truth. The hand in hand interaction of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. How that combination lived out in our lives is what pleases the LORD. At this she sees it. It all comes together.
We don’t know exactly why she turned the conversation when Jesus addressed her sin. But what an interesting development:
- She meets Jesus,
- finds out He has living water,
- recognizes His authority of God’s word,
- then the conversation moves to worship.
As she prods and seeks understanding, she discovers she is with the long-awaited Messiah. Just in this single moment at the well, she is being drawn to see Jesus as her Savior. Not a Jew, not a man, not a prophet, but her Savior. It took many phases of seeing Him in different ways and now she sees Him fully as He is.
This woman came to the well empty, broken and parched from her life. In “this man”, she saw the value of the living water, had deep crevices within her heart exposed and met the Savior who can lead her to true worship. She was changed. Instead of hiding, being alone in the solitude she now beams with new life. She has tasted the living water. And from that she can step into the open- unashamedly, telling her village, “This is the man who told me everything I did.” She flowed with living water and it spilled over. Not only does it quench our thirst. This water moves like a river and brings many to believe in Christ. It stretches and reaches the dry empty places all around.
There is just so much here. I feel like what this woman experienced in a moment is an example of the ongoing discovery of Christ. Once we meet our Savior, we continually uncover new aspects of Him that go deeper until we meet the wellspring of God Himself.
This reminds me of a quote from C.S. Lewis in his Narnia series “The Last Battle”,
“I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now…Come further up, come further in!”
I, myself may not have come home yet, but “further up and further in” I go, as I discover Jesus in a new way through each phase and season I journey with Him.
“The Potter’s Clay- A Molded Heart for Him”
I love writing and I love Jesus. My desire is to remain anonymous so that He is highlighted. I responded to Christ as an adult. Life before and life after were like night and day. He has become my life, my journey, my everything. My goal is to use this outlet of writing in a way that glorifies Jesus, introduces others to the one and only Savior and shares the joyful excitement that comes with knowing Him. As long as I have written, the words for Him have been continuous. A lifetime of journals, stories, poems, and songs doesn’t come close to what can be said of Him. He truly is indescribable. And yet here I am, burning to share every word or sentiment that I can muster. I pray that God would use my writing in a way that revitalizes the weary and brings life to the hopeless.
To connect with more posts on the Gospel of John from this author, click here.
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