Day 10 - The Woman at the Well

by Wayne Gregg

John 4:4-42; Jeremiah 2:13; 17:13

This encounter with Jesus happened when Jesus and his disciples were traveling north to Galilee, through Samaria, near the town of Sychar. Jesus stopped at the well (dug by Jacob, and given to his son Joseph), while his disciples went into town. His encounter with the Samaritan woman was both unusual and likely prophetic. It was unusual for a woman to travel alone to draw water, and especially in the heat of the day. A long story, but the woman was an outcast in her society. Jesus met her at her level, and asked her for a drink of water from the well. A dialogue of how-dare-you-ask ensues. 

The take-away is Jesus came to fulfill the prediction (prophecies) of the prophets, and takes this opportunity to use a very obscure reference to “living water” found only in two places in the Old Testament: in Jeremiah 2:13 and 17:13. The term “living water,” I believe, is code for the Holy Spirit, who will come when Jesus leaves. Jesus goes on to amaze the woman even more, by telling her all about her not-so-great life, to the extent that she runs to town to share what she has heard. In addition, Jesus revealed to her (ahead of many others) that he is the promised Messiah, for whom everyone is waiting. This was only one of two times Jesus refers to “living water” in the New Testament. Living water is running, clean moving water, think: springs, rivers and lakes, whereas non-living water is stagnant (think cisterns) and can be poisonous to humans. 

That may be the difference between Christians who have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, and non-Christians who do not. For some people like myself this Spirit arrives much later in life. We may reach a point in our lives where we realize we are sinners, that we are sorry for our sins, and there is no way we can keep from being sinners. Our task then is: to accept and admit we are sinners, then to ask God for forgiveness, and finally to ask for the Holy Spirit to enter our lives. Much easier said than done. 

When Jesus left earth he said he would send “the counselor” to be with us, to dwell in us. That is what happened on Pentecost, and what can happen when we today ask for the Holy Spirit to be part of our lives. The born again part happens with the arrival of the Holy Spirit. The woman at the well knew what she just experienced and was an early believer and disciple in the world for Jesus. May we each first consult the Holy Spirit (Third Person of the Triune God) in all areas of our lives.