John 4:1-15
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. If you haven’t read the Introduction to John’s Gospel, read it here.
Today’s passage is the first of four parts of the story of Jesus’ life-changing encounter with a Samaritan woman. As you read John 4:1-15, try to imagine what Jesus is feeling and thinking.
The Samaritans were descendants of Israelites who were taken captive by Assyria around 1300 years prior to Jesus’ meeting with the woman at the well. They were part Jewish and part Gentile (Assyrian) and they had their own version of the Jewish Scriptures and their own ways of worshiping God. Both Jews and Samaritans despised each other and would go out of their way to avoid the other.
Certainly there were other routes Jesus could have chosen to travel to Judea – Samaria was out of the way – but Jesus “had” to go there. Later in John’s Gospel we’ll hear Jesus say that everything he does and says is directed by God the Father, so we must assume that this compulsion to travel through enemy territory was divinely ordained.
Take a moment to consider how Jesus might have understood this urging from God the Father. Have you ever had the sense that God was leading you? Talk to Jesus about that.
Jesus recognized God leading him to a divine encounter with a lowly outcast from society. Not only did this person occupy a lower rung of the societal ladder because of her gender, she was at the well alone in the heat of the day most likely because she was shunned even by other women.
Stop to recall a time when you felt judged or excluded by others. What did you most need or desire when that happened? Tell Jesus about anything you are thinking or feeling right now.
With those thoughts and feeling in mind, read John 4:1-15 again from the perspective of the woman.
Jesus is experiencing physical thirst, but rather than meet his own need, he engages the woman by asking for her help. And then he offers her something far greater than a simple drink of water.
Imagine the feelings of the lonely woman when Jesus offers to quench the deepest thirst of her soul with a gift from God.
What are you thirsting for today? What needs do you have that seem overwhelming? Do you believe that Jesus has the means to help you? Talk to Jesus about your needs.
Jesus didn’t solve the woman’s obvious need, he offered her something far greater. Sit with that thought for a moment and consider asking Jesus to open your eyes to the gifts he holds out to you today.
Is there anything you believe Jesus may be inviting you to do as a result of today’s meditation? If so, take action as soon as possible.
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