by Pastor Rich Carlson

Jews did not like Samaritans in Jesus’ day. Thus, it might seem odd that in the fourth chapter of John, Jesus journeyed right through hostile Samaritan territory. But as He and His disciples trekked, Jesus got tired and stopped to rest at Jacob’s well, near the town of Sychar. After His disciples went to get food in the city, along came a woman to draw water.

Back then, if a Jew encountered a Samaritan, the encounter was considered socially unacceptable. But encountering a Samaritan woman was worse. A “good Jew” would not associate with a Samaritan—man or woman—much less talk to one. But Jesus wasn’t a “good Jew” and He wasn’t there to create separation. He was there to demonstrate His Father’s love.

Three things I like about the story of the woman at the well:

1. No one is too insignificant for Jesus to care about. Samaritan women were about as low in the Jewish caste system of the day as one could get. But that didn’t make any difference to Jesus. He may have been physically thirsty and hungry but He was more interested in the soul of this one woman than even taking care of those physical needs.

2. No one is going to distract Jesus from His mission. In His usual way, Jesus began a conversation with a question—asking the woman for a drink. As the conversation progressed and became more personal, the woman tried at least three times to distract Jesus from a spiritual encounter, and three times He didn’t even act like He heard her argument. He just focused on His opportunity to talk with her about the gift of salvation. To her Jesus declared, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (verses 13-14).

3. Many others will respond to a high level of personal commitment. In the end, “many believed” because of what the woman at the well told her fellow Samaritans. Her witnessing drew the other city dwellers to Jesus to hear Him for themselves (verses 39-41).

What a God! And what an opportunity to declare to others His unfailing love! That was the food Jesus enjoyed feasting on whenever He could.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.