Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read John 4:5–42

Jesus intentionally traveled into Samaria at that specific hour because He knew she would be there.  

And then, He spoke to her. This fact alone is striking. A Jewish man initiating a conversation with a Samaritan woman would have been socially unthinkable. Silence would have been easier, and certainly more acceptable. 

There is so much to share with you about this Sunday’s gospel. It is lengthy—comprising thirty-seven verses—and it’s a familiar passage, one you’ve probably heard proclaimed many times. However, we can trust that each time we return to it, our Lord will reveal something new.

The country of Samaria was a territory that devout Jews typically avoided, so we can assume it was not on the disciples’ travel itinerary to Jerusalem. This detour was deliberate. 

During this midday meeting at the well, Jesus not only spoke to this woman, He engaged her fully. He took her questions seriously and answered them. He listened. He taught. In the course of their conversation, He revealed deep spiritual truths that had not yet been spoken so plainly. And, He chose to reveal them to her. 

Revealed Truths
Living Water. This is a gift that truly satisfies, unlike the well water, where we have to return again and again, for more and more, because our thirst for it is never quenched (John 4:14).

Worship. Worship is no longer geographically confined to a mountain or a temple. Rather, true worship will be offered “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

Messiah. In response to the woman's mention of the anticipated Messiah, Jesus says: “I am he, the one speaking with you” (John 4:26). This is the clearest self-revelation of His identity that Jesus has made thus far. And He entrusted it to her.

Not to Nicodemus, the well-known Pharisee with whom Jesus only recently conversed (John 3).
Not to Peter, James, or John.
Not to any of the other named apostles. 

But to her—a Samaritan woman, an unnamed woman, an outsider with a complicated history. The longest recorded conversation Jesus has with any individual in the Bible is with this woman, a woman who had a past, whose reputation might have preceded her, who chose to come to the well at midday to avoid the whispers and murmurings of the other women. 

Before revealing all of these truths about Himself and the kingdom, Jesus does something equally important. He simply names what is true. And the woman does not run away, hide, or cower. He tells her, “You have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband” (John 4:18). Notice what our Lord does not do. No shame. No public exposure. He does not reduce her identity to her past.

Jesus Frees
Consider the names we have called ourselves, the labels others have for us: divorced, still single, struggling, weak, sensitive, too much, not enough, failed, infertile, ruined, complicated. These are heavy words we hold onto and we tend to carry with us. 

But when Jesus speaks to the woman about her own story, He doesn’t trap her in it. She is freed from hiding and self-rejection. His honesty is not a condemnation; it is an invitation to receive love, to be seen, and to be known. He doesn’t run from her sin, and she doesn’t run from His truth.

He sees each of us, what we show in the daylight and what we hide in the dark. And still, He stays. 

My friend, this is our Lord’s heart for all of us. No one is beyond the reach of grace. 

You are not just any woman to Him. No one is a stranger to the Lord. No one is an outsider in His heart. 

I could weep when I reflect on these moments that she experienced with our Lord, because I have been that woman at the well. And maybe, you have been, too. 

I have thirsted for belonging, identity, and purpose. I have tried to quench it by turning to what the world can offer, and I have always ended up thirsty for more. Like many, I have lugged my sins around with me that are just as heavy and burdensome as the woman’s water jar. I have felt excluded and unworthy. I have felt rejected and ashamed. I have believed the lie that I was lost and beyond saving. 

And yet, despite everything we have done, Jesus still pursues you and me. He deliberately seeks us out. He listens. He teaches. He reveals truth. He draws us close. He loves. He restores our dignity.

Let’s not forget that many in Samaria came to believe in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony (John 4:39). This woman, who once may have been overlooked, now becomes the bridge by which others come to Him. An encounter with Christ always transforms us. But even more than that, it sends us. Living water does not stay contained. It surges and rushes. It overflows. 

When we allow ourselves to be fully seen, known, and loved by Jesus, we cannot help but drop everything, run, and share the good news. 

We drop our sins, our shame, our pride.
We drop our brokenness.
We leave behind our anxiety and fear of what others think.
The very thing we believe defines us? We are no longer burdened by its weight.  

Like the woman who left her jar, our arms are freed from holding it all, and we can run. Run to tell others of what we know, of whom we know. We cannot help but bear witness, not because we are perfect, but because we are forgiven. Not because our story is polished, but because it has been redeemed. 

This weekend, we have a divine appointment to make, a deliberate detour that will lead us away from the challenges and chaos of the world. Across miles and oceans, across differences of age and background, race and status, we will all—in heaven and on earth—gather as the one body of Christ. We will stand. We will profess our faith. We will approach the altar. 

And the very same Lord who waited at the well for the woman, He waits for us. 

Come thirsty, friend.
Jeannine

Food for thought or journaling …

What part of my story do I struggle to believe Jesus fully sees and still loves, and how can I invite Him into that place this week?

Lord Jesus, meet me in my thirst to be seen, known, and loved. Speak truth gently into my story. May I be quenched by Your living water. May I not turn back to the wells of the world for comfort or control. Instead, Lord, may I meet You where You wait for me. Lord, I desire to be loved by You. Let my life overflow with the living water of Your love. Amen.

P.S. Curious to learn even more about Jesus’ meaningful encounter with this incredible woman? Check out the Bible study, Touching the Divine, where we dive into her story across not just one, but two captivating lessons!