Women of the New TestamentSample

The Samaritan Woman Evangelist

In Samaria, a woman went to draw water at Jacob’s well in the middle of the day. She expects to be alone at the well. Instead, she meets a man who, in her words, “told me everything I ever did” (John 4:29). Defying social norms, Jesus strikes up a conversation with the woman by asking her for a drink. Jews did not associate with Samaritans because they considered them ritually and racially “unclean.” Surprised by Jesus, the woman, who had a checkered past with men, perhaps is also unaccustomed to men speaking to her respectfully. She had been married five times, and the man she was living with was not her husband.

Jesus knows all about her past. Yet He seeks her out and offers water that leads to eternal life. What ensues is the longest recorded conversation Jesus has with anyone in the Bible. Curious and open, the Samaritan woman poses theologically astute questions. She goes from calling Him sir (verse 11) to identifying Him as a prophet (verse 19) to understanding that He is the Messiah (verses 26, 29). When the woman says she knows the Messiah is coming and will explain everything, Jesus replies, “I who speak to you am He” (verse 26, ESV).

Then, leaving her water jug, the woman returns to town and proclaims to the people. “Come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” (verses 28-29). This is less of a question and more of an invitation for others to discover who Jesus is for themselves. She is so excited that she leaves her water jug, the burden she was carrying before! She is so excited that she can’t help but share the good news with everyone she meets - Jesus, the Messiah, knew everything about her and still sought her out and loved her enough to offer her living water!

The late pastor and theologian Tim Keller said, “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.” The Samaritan woman experiences this kind of love by the side of the well, completely transforming her.

The disciples then return from getting lunch and offer Jesus something to eat. He tells them that He has had food to eat that they know nothing about (verse 32). The disciples had spent more time with Jesus than the Samaritan woman, but they lacked her understanding. Jesus tells them to open their eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest (verse 35). The Samaritan woman got what the disciples missed. She knew that Jesus came, not only for the Jews and the insiders. But He also came for the lost and lonely and for the least of these. He came for her and her people, too!

We all desire to be fully known and fully loved. As humans, we fall short of that kind of love. Only God fully knows and loves us. What is your response to God’s love for you? How can you grow in discipleship and in sharing your faith, following the example of the Samaritan woman?

Prayer: thank you for knowing everything about us and accepting and loving us. Please remove anything that hinders us from receiving your love—whether it is past hurt, unbelief, or pride. Please help us boldly share our faith, like the Samaritan woman did. In Jesus’ name, Amen.