The Woman who Found Living Water
I would like to tell you a true story from the Bible. In this story, Jesus shows unconditional compassion towards a woman who was suffering spiritually.
One day, around the year 30AD, Jesus went to his hometown of Galilee. He had to pass through Samaria on his way. In those days, the Jews believed the Samaritans were unclean. At about 12 noon, Jesus was tired from walking. He sat down beside a well.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. Jesus said to her, “Would you please give me a drink of water?” The woman was surprised that he spoke to her. Jews did not associate with Samaritans. Also, it was not common for men to talk to women whom they didn’t know. The woman said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for water?”
Jesus gave this reply to the woman, “If you knew God’s gift for you and if you knew who I was, you would have asked me for water. I would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you don’t have anything to draw the water with, and this well is deep. Where can you get this living water?” Jesus gave this reply, “Everyone who drinks this water will thirst again. The one who drinks the water I will give will never thirst again. The water I give will become a spring of water inside that person. This living water leads to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water! Then I’ll never thirst again. I won’t have to come here to get water.”
Jesus said to the woman, “Go and get your husband.” “I don’t have a husband,“ she replied. Jesus said, “You have spoken the truth. You don’t have a husband right now. Actually, you’ve had five husbands. And you are not married to the man you are living with right now. You have spoken the truth.”
The woman said, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Tell me, where is the right location for people to worship God?” Jesus answered, “Woman, believe me, the time is coming when the location will not matter. God is Spirit. People must worship him in spirit and in truth. God is looking for those who will worship him in this way.” The woman said to him, “I know the Savior who is called the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus said, “I AM the Messiah.”
The woman left her water jar and ran to her village. She told everyone, “Come and see a man who knows my secrets!” Many Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman. They invited Jesus to stay in their village. He stayed there for two days. He explained his message of love and salvation. Because of his words, many more believed in Jesus.
Later the people in the village came to the woman and said, “Now we have heard Jesus for ourselves. We know he really is the Savior of the world.”
That is the true story.
