An Intentional Meeting
John 4:4-18 (NLT)
He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
“I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
Reflection
Is there such a thing as an “intentional coincidence” or is it an oxymoron? For Jesus, meeting the Samaritan woman at the well was quite intentional. But for the woman, she must have thought meeting Jesus that afternoon was the most fortuitous coincidence of her life. How had she been so lucky to arrive just when Jesus needed some water, and she needed His truth?
Jesus was known for speaking the truth. Sometimes it may have felt harsh or critical, but it was always meant to lovingly challenge the recipient to face the hurt or sin laying just below the surface. He knew the truth needed to rise to a level of consciousness, so that if the individual was receptive, he or she could repent and begin a new chapter of life.
It didn’t always work. Case in point – Matthew 19:16-22. A man asked Jesus what he needed to do to have eternal life. When Jesus told the man to sell all his property, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Him, the man turned away sadly as presumably, he could not bear to part with his wealth. He was certainly not jumping at the chance to give up his comfortable life and his eternal fate remains a biblical mystery.
The Samaritan woman at the well faced the truth Jesus put before her, and was receptive to what Jesus was offering her. After facing her sins and repenting, she became a vocal messenger who undoubtedly brought many others to know and follow Jesus. There is a lesson in this for all of us. Once we face the truth about our brokenness and turn to Jesus, He can use us in so many ways to advance His kingdom.
Action Steps
1. Read Matthew 19:16-22. Compare the attitude of the rich man to that of the Samaritan woman. Think about how different the rich man’s life would have been if he had been willing to face his truth, change his path, and follow Jesus.
2. Is there something in your life laying just below a level of consciousness that needs to surface? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you face whatever is holding you back from being able to truly serve God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for always speaking truth to me, and for loving me even when I have a hard time facing those truths. Be with me, Holy Spirit, as I try daily to seek Your wisdom and truth for my life. Help me to share the truth about You to others, and to always be willing to be a witness to others about what You have done for me. Amen.
He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
“I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
Reflection
Is there such a thing as an “intentional coincidence” or is it an oxymoron? For Jesus, meeting the Samaritan woman at the well was quite intentional. But for the woman, she must have thought meeting Jesus that afternoon was the most fortuitous coincidence of her life. How had she been so lucky to arrive just when Jesus needed some water, and she needed His truth?
Jesus was known for speaking the truth. Sometimes it may have felt harsh or critical, but it was always meant to lovingly challenge the recipient to face the hurt or sin laying just below the surface. He knew the truth needed to rise to a level of consciousness, so that if the individual was receptive, he or she could repent and begin a new chapter of life.
It didn’t always work. Case in point – Matthew 19:16-22. A man asked Jesus what he needed to do to have eternal life. When Jesus told the man to sell all his property, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Him, the man turned away sadly as presumably, he could not bear to part with his wealth. He was certainly not jumping at the chance to give up his comfortable life and his eternal fate remains a biblical mystery.
The Samaritan woman at the well faced the truth Jesus put before her, and was receptive to what Jesus was offering her. After facing her sins and repenting, she became a vocal messenger who undoubtedly brought many others to know and follow Jesus. There is a lesson in this for all of us. Once we face the truth about our brokenness and turn to Jesus, He can use us in so many ways to advance His kingdom.
Action Steps
1. Read Matthew 19:16-22. Compare the attitude of the rich man to that of the Samaritan woman. Think about how different the rich man’s life would have been if he had been willing to face his truth, change his path, and follow Jesus.
2. Is there something in your life laying just below a level of consciousness that needs to surface? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you face whatever is holding you back from being able to truly serve God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for always speaking truth to me, and for loving me even when I have a hard time facing those truths. Be with me, Holy Spirit, as I try daily to seek Your wisdom and truth for my life. Help me to share the truth about You to others, and to always be willing to be a witness to others about what You have done for me. Amen.
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