“The Woman at the Well”
John 4
Imagine the scene described in John 4.
It’s noon on a hot day and the town well is outside of the town.
I imagine it as a somewhat barren place, dusty. Desert like.
And there Jesus rests. Tired. And most certainly not looking anything like God.
And through the haze approaches a solitary figure.
The Samaritan woman.
Just the two of them.
By this well in a somewhat desolate place, she meets God.
The location and conversation actually brings colour to the scene. It’s all there – strong reminders of the story of God unfolding.
The fact that it is Jacob’s well (although it is never mentioned in scripture) recalls the three great Patriarch’s of the Hebrew faith – Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
The fact that she is a Samaritan recalls the great judgement visited upon Israel. The Samaritans came about because when the Assyrians overthrew Israel in 722BC, they brought in foreigners to mix races and religion.
Hence the Samaritans were hated by the Jews.
And the Samaritans developed their own belief and understanding about God – they only believed in the first 5 books of the Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
They believed and waited for a Messiah – but in a somewhat limited fashion.
Such was the fabric of experience, belief and history at that time.
None of which was probably especially on the woman’s mind that hot day. She just wanted to get her water.
The story conveys a sense of weariness doesn’t it.
Jesus is tired and is in need of rest.
The woman is going about a heavy task in the heat of the day.
And there is the added burden of racial tension, her place as a woman, her place as someone whose life is morally flawed.
To me the whole story screams tiredness, weariness – even despondency.
But – surrounding it all are these powerful “props” and “scenes” that remind us that the story of God is still powerfully in play.
And now in the ordinary routine of life – a wonderful encounter takes place.
God is present.
Reading this story the other night, one moment in this conversation caught my eye.
It is a hinge to the story and more than a little puzzling.
"Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.”" (John 4:13-16, NRSV)
There is a pattern here that has been played out twice before in John’s gospel.
Jesus makes a statement which is full of promise and the person He is talking with seems to miss it.
In John 2 Jesus cleanses the temple and drives out the money-changers.
The Jews gather around Him with menace and Jesus says “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”
They answer Him, “This temple has been under construction for 46 years and You say you will raise it up in three days?”
In John 3 Nicodemus, a Pharisee, visits Jesus and Jesus says “No-one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”
Nicodemus answers “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”
And now here in John 4. Same thing again.
Jesus makes a statement. A promise and like before, the person seems to miss it.
“If you drink of the water I give you’ll never thirst again, it will become a spring of water in them gushing up to eternal life.”
“Great!” says the woman.
“I’ll never have to come and draw water again!”
Let’s pause here. At least three times in as many chapters the same thing happens.
Jesus makes a wonderful statement and it just seems to be wasted.
Totally lost on the person. Why bother?
Undoubtedly there is genuine ignorance there. People simply did not understand Who Jesus was and what His mission was.
It is not uncommon to read in the Gospels that the disciples later understood something Jesus said or did once He was raised from the dead (e.g. John 2).
But when it happens again in John 4 – Jesus does something different.
He doesn’t just let the statement hang in the air like in John 2; He doesn’t explain it like in John 3…
This time he appears to say something utterly random.
“Go, call your husband, and come back.”
We know that Jesus knew she wasn’t married. So why did He ask this after she appeared to misunderstand what He was saying?
I wonder if that day she was doing what many of us to this day do – actually understand better than we let on. So we play games.
I wonder if she was doing what many of us do to this day.
Try to keep Christ at a safe distance.
I read a great quote this week – “God is not mean but He is dangerous.”
The Samaritan woman was by no means the first.
Remember God once said to Adam “Where are you?” and the response was “I heard You walking and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
In reading John 4 it seems crazy that this wonderful offer of living water is avoided (verse 10 has made it quite explicit!)
That she hides.
“Go, call your husband, and come back.”
What is that?
An accusation?
A test?
Is Jesus setting her up?
In the presence of her apparent ignorance and lack of understanding; in the presence of her fear about what is happening Jesus response is not an accusation; or a test; or Him playing games.
It is an invitation.
And it was not primarily an invitation to actually go and bring her “husband” back.
It was primarily an invitation to be truthful.
It was an invitation to be real with Jesus.
And she was!!!
And do you know what happened the moment she said “I don’t have a husband”?
Do you know what happened in that moment of transparency and honesty?
Do you know what happened in that desolate and parched life?
Do you know what happened to that woman?
She took her first sip of living water!!
I love the way the story ends.
"The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I am He, the One who is speaking to you.”" (John 4:25-26, NRSV)
Ouside His trial – this is the only time Jesus clearly states that He is the Messiah.
This morning the Spirit of Christ is speaking to you.
“I am He, the One Who is speaking to you.”
Making the same invitation.
To be truthful and real with Him.
To stop deflecting, hiding, pretending that you don’t really understand what He means when He says “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days”; “No-one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born anew”; “Those who drink of the water I give will never be thirsty again”
In response to whatever we put up to change the subject…
He responds with an invitation for you to respond to Him in truth.
“Go, call your husband, and come back.”
“Go, gather up the appearance of your life, and come back.”
“Go, gather up your “faith” and come back”
“Go, gather up the way you conduct your business, friendships, finances, conversation, secrets, plans, career, and come back.”
“I can’t. Because truthfully the way things have been, the way I have conducted myself is nothing to be especially proud about.
That’s the truth.”
Do you “taste” the water?
Presented By: Rev. Geoff New