In John 4:1-10, Jesus traveled to initiate a conversation with the woman at the well. As they began to converse back and forth. Jesus talked to the woman about "the gift of God" and knowing it, and we spent time dissecting what that meant in the last post.
This week, I want to take one step back and read the story contextually. I should have done this to begin with, but God always has His own timing at play. Once we’re done reading, I’ll share a few general truths that have been important in my redemptive journey and also sets us up for verses 11 and 12, which we'll experience in the coming weeks.
But for now, let's take a slow breath and read from the NIV (or you can listen to it here):
1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 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." 11 "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?" 13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 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."
15 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." 16 He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." 17 "I have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 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." 19 "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." 21 "Woman," Jesus replied, "believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 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. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." 25 The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." 26 Then Jesus declared, "I, the one speaking to you—I am he."
The Disciples Rejoin Jesus
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something." 32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." 33 Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" 34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
Many Samaritans Believe
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
Awesome. I hope you made it through all 42 verses of John’s account of this divine interruption. Divinely Interrupted was founded on the basis of studying Scripture, verse by verse, and traversing God's Word together. I started this many years ago and the first verse by verse study I wrote was Isaiah 6 and I emailed it to a small group of ladies at church (on New Years’ Eve if my memory serves me…which is questionable). I only recount this because my youngest son (he’s 6) came home from school the other day and asked me if I had ever read Isaiah 6. He was so excited to tell me how the train of the Lord’s robe filled the temple and while I smiled, I fought back a few tears because I immediately recalled penning that study over a dozen years ago and being in awe of that same visual. He gets so animated in retelling what he’s learned in his Sunday class or at school in relation to the Word, and I’m on the edge of my seat to watch what God does with that energy He’s seeded in hm.
As I grow older (and slowly wiser), I recognize how the divine has often been left out of my studies. Too frequently, I have treated Scripture as an object and not as a subject. I have thought of it as a knowledge to be known through traditional scholarly methods of studying verse by verse instead of a force to set my gaze upon. If you knew me well and all my stories, this would not surprise you (just as it doesn’t surprise God). Many of my experiences and wounds over the years have told me (lied to me) that you should be wary of what closeness costs you. When that lie takes root, care never really feels like care and so you learn to “stay safe” by only needing what you can give yourself.
Our sinful bodies tell the story of our harm and trauma, and they need intimate and attuned care. We all need a Savior. Not just to “be saved” so we “go to heaven,” but to experience the ongoing, redemptive restorative process of our wounds. Jesus knew this of the woman at the well. He didn't speak with her about self-care (although necessary), but He wanted her to be seen, known, and held in relational safety by Him. And, I’m still learning that, too.
I recognize now how more balance needs to occur as I write and share truth with you. While studying Word upon Word is essential, it is not exclusive. I am an avid student and reader. Growing up, I was the kid who stayed home to study for tomorrow's test instead of going out with friends. But, then again, it was easier to study by myself than connect my heart to others. I am learning — especially spiritually — the joy it brings to experience Scripture with Christ. and with others. That is truly what the woman at the well experienced that day — being with Someone who could fully make her feel that she is seen, soothed, and safe.
Intimacy with God requires me to trust that the One who knows me well will not betray or use my vulnerability against me. —Dan Allender, Redeeming Heartache
When I read this story in John 4, I usually ask the Lord to recreate it with me. “Lord, sit with me because I audibly want to hear what I need to do next. Face-to-face, please.” Our Lord is gracious to intercede for us, even when we don’t ask quite right.
But, what is fascinating about these verses is that she doesn't have an immediate revelation and understanding. Does she get there? Yes. Is it impactful? Absolutely. But it took conversation and time. There is a redemptive process that was birthed at the well, and we only get to see a little past it. Yes, this woman brings many people to the Messiah (verse 39) — but that doesn’t mean her old wounds and heartache aren't still at work in chapters 5 and 6 (where she's not mentioned). Scripturally, we are shown how Jesus draws out the deep wounds, offers the Healer's touch, and then uses a broken, Christ-aware person to point others to the Healer. He provides the same to us as we become aware of the brokenness and aware of the Healer. We have a new life, yet one that is still in need of a Savior.
This story is not about a miraculous meeting with Jesus at the well that magically reprograms someone's heart and mind. It is about an ordinary, everyday moment in a human who experiences Jesus and walks away having encountered the Living Word. Ironically, I wrote about this years ago when I started Divinely Interrupted. It’s amazing how God brings things full circle:
This blog is designed to encourage, sharpen, and inspire women (but men are always welcome) who have devoted their ordinary, everyday life into the hands of God.
Did this woman at the well have an incredible impact on the Kingdom? Unquestionably. Was she miraculously transformed with no desire for her old ways or no struggle with the wounds that were so familiar? It never says that. Maybe so, but let’s not extend Scripture further than what is provided. The long-term “after” story, is left open. And, maybe it’s left open because we each are like this woman and we have a redemptive story that is left open for Him to pen as He sees fit. Your story will be unquestionably impactful for the Kingdom, beloved. You are seen. You are soothed. You are safe.
Jesus showed the woman that day The Way, and she chose to walk in it. Redemption is both an event and a process. It is an experience and the hard work of traveling a new path (neurologically, physically, emotionally, spiritually), but now we do it with Him.
As we study the next several verses in coming weeks, I'm going to introduce to you the Lectio Divina, which is a method of Scripture reading that helps foster intimacy and closeness with God (which I often fail to integrate here). Is Lectio Divina a "formula" for the Christian walk? Absolutely not. Is it a tool we can use, just as we use tools to study Scripture? Yes. It has helped me to open my heart to the care of Christ and the vulnerability of being in a close relationship with Him. My prayer is that it will bless you as it has me.
Please tune in next week as we practice Lectio Divina together.
