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Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-26)

 Jesus knew that the Pharisees could make trouble, the closer he was to Jerusalem, so he withdrew to a smaller place. As it says, he had to pass through Samaria. The Samaritans were viewed as half-breeds and heretics. This is why the woman was surprised when Jesus began to talk to her. It was about noon.

Jesus knows when someone is ready to receive Him, and he is drawing her out, as someone would draw the water out of the well. Sometimes when Jesus gets close, we don't necessarily run away, but we would rather talk about something else. The woman deflects Jesus, or tries to, a couple of different times.

Whatever we are ashamed of is the thing that Jesus needs to take away from us. This woman has had five husbands, and probably it was unlawful, otherwise she wouldn't feel bad about it. Jesus knows why she's here in the middle of the day; she's been ostracized by everyone in her community.

What does it mean when it says, "living water"? It could mean simply moving water. Even so, Jesus has nothing with which to carry water. On the other hand, I think "living water" refers to something mystical and spiritual. Even after Jesus tells her to call her husband, she doesn't want to talk about that, so she starts a theological discussion with Jesus. It would be interesting to talk about the things of God with God Himself, but sometimes it is easy to talk about the things of God, instead of talking with God about the things that have hurt us, and still hold us back.

This woman is transformed, not only because she is known by Jesus, but because she is known and accepted by Jesus. He doesn't accept the choices she has made, but he treats are like a person, and not a beast, or some kind of monster. I think people can get into a pattern, knowing that others judge them, and they accept that in their own way, judging themselves. One of the great mysteries here is that God does not allow us to condemn ourselves. It is actually pride, for us to say that we are unworthy of love.

Jesus reconciling this woman to God is also a preview of God's plan to take the message of salvation in Jesus to the entire world. Salvation is from the Jews, but it is for everyone. The living water of the Holy Spirit quenches our spiritual thirst, our deepest need, even if we don't realize it.

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