Why was Jesus speaking to a Samaritan woman?

Talking to this woman was, in itself, a culturally shocking thing to do. Jews hated Samaritans and would normally avoid them. Plus, this woman had a complicated past. She was not accepted by her own community, so she had to collect water at the hottest time of the day when others weren’t around. But Jesus went out of his way to connect with her. He wanted her to know that God knew her and loved her.

How to get water from a well

In Bible times, people carried leather buckets, which folded down so they were easy to transport. These leather containers were attached to a rope, lowered into the well, and then pulled back up full of water. The disciples must have taken theirs into town. So, Jesus asked a local woman to draw water for him instead.

Activity

It’s easy to stay in cliques and to avoid people who aren’t like us. Think of somebody who is on the ‘edge’ in one of your friendship groups. Next time you see them, challenge yourself to:

• Include them in the conversation or activity.
• Ask for their opinion.
• Invite them to an event.
• Give them a compliment.