A Message from Mary King,
Director of Communications
Have you ever thought of Jesus in mortal terms as a progressive, disruptor, or radical reformer? This weekend’s Gospel, John 4:5-42, aka “the woman at the well,” tells a story about Jesus’ radical love and his ability to break down racial, gender, and religious barriers. Amongst his radical moves is his choice of whom to reveal himself for the first time as the Messiah — to an outcasted Samaritan woman Jesus meets at a well; she becomes his first prophet.
The story begins with Jesus telling the apostles that they will be stopping in Samaria on their way from Judea to Galilee. This was not a destination nor a typical resting spot among the Jews. Samaria was inhabited by the Samaritans, who were despised by the Jews. Samaritans were of mixed or non-Jewish descent and viewed by the Jews as unclean, spiritually corrupt, and pagan foreigners. But Jesus makes a special point of going there. He sits to rest at the Well of Jacob, the community’s water well, during midday while he directs the apostles to head into town to buy some food.
While the apostles are gone, a lone Samaritan woman comes to the well. Jesus speaks to her, “Give me a drink.” Speaking to a woman, especially this woman is a radical move on many levels for this time in history.
- Men did not converse with women, especially unaccompanied women, in public spaces.
- Jesus is Jewish; she is a Samaritan.
Samaritans’ religious views were vastly different from the Jews, even worshipping on different mounts and each believing that God had chosen their people to be the leaders of the people. - In addition to being a woman, she is a social outcast having five previous husbands, and now living with a man outside of marriage.
Evidence of the community’s rejection of the woman was the mid-day hour when Jesus found her at the well. Instead of coming to the well early morning when the weather was more favorable and when the women typically gathered at the well for water and fellowship, she came by herself at a time when no one else would be there to avoid the ongoing judgment and rejection.
Jesus feels her rejection and pain at the well and acknowledges her presence with his words, “Give me a drink.” She is unaccustomed to being addressed by anyone, let alone a Jewish man. In talking, Jesus promises her something better than the water she is gathering. Jesus says, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14). She takes this statement quite literally, asking him for that water “so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” (John 4:15). It isn’t until Jesus speaks matter-of-factly (without judgment) about the women’s past relationships with men, but without her divulging it, that she begins to understand who he is and to believe. She leaves her water jar behind and joyfully runs into town to spread the word. “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?” (John 4:29) Many of the people began to believe in Jesus because of the word of the woman, and the Samaritans invited Jesus to stay with them, which he did for two more days. Through that time, many more came to believe in Him.
Like the woman at the well, most of us have made our fair share of mistakes in life. The guilt and weight of these mistakes can make us feel isolated and alone and maybe even live with the fear of being ‘found out’ or encountering the judgment of others. But Jesus sees her, and he sees us. He sees all the good and the bad within us and loves us just the same.
These radical, earthly actions by Jesus are what he gives us, accepting, embracing, and loving us always and unconditionally. It’s the highest standard of love. And he calls us to do the same. Can we aspire to it? Can we love radically? In this deeply divided world, can we meet someone at their well, love and acknowledge them, and be our Lord’s peacemakers?
P.S. You can watch this story unfold on The Chosen via the YouTube clip below.