The Samaritan Woman's Encounter With Jesus

Jesus was traveling from Judea to Galilee. On His way, He passed through Samaria. Although this was the fastest route, it was not the only route. Most Jews would take a longer route just to avoid the Samaritans whom they hated. Instead, Jesus chose specifically to travel through Samaria. Why? As Jesus became weary from his journey, He came to a well. Here at Jacob’s well, Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman whose life would be forever changed.

A Samaritan woman went to the well for a necessity, something she couldn’t live without—water. As she approached, Jesus was there, and He asked her for a drink of water. Her response was filled with surprise as she questioned why Jesus would break social norms by talking with her. During this time period, it was culturally unacceptable for Jews and Samaritans to have a conversation in public, as it was for men and woman. Jesus told her that if she knew who He was, she would be asking Him for water, because He alone provided living water.

The woman was confused by Jesus’ statement because it seemed physically impossible—well water was still, not “living” or flowing. Jesus told her: “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13–14).

How wonderful! Water that will forever satisfy. A spring of water leading to eternal life. The woman said essentially, Yes, this is the water I want, living water—Jesus the One who forever quenches our thirst, satisfies our souls, and leads us into eternal life.

As the story continues, it becomes obvious this woman had been seeking fulfillment, satisfaction, significance, worth, and value in the ways of the world. She was still thirsty. The ways of the world may have quenched her thirst for a moment, but in the end, she was still longing for living water that would never run dry. As she encountered Jesus this day, she finally came face-to-face with the One who could give her value, worth, satisfaction, fulfillment, joy, and eternal life. He was the One who could forever and always meet her greatest desires and needs. Jesus, the living water.

Upon this life-changing moment, the woman left her water jar and returned to town to tell the people of this man named Jesus. Isn’t it interesting that she left her water jar? On a spiritual level, she did not need her water jar any longer because she had tasted the living water that never runs dry.

Due to this woman’s testimony, the town people came to see Jesus, and many believed in Him. Jesus gave this woman a new story. No longer was she the woman known for multiple husbands, but rather the woman who introduced her neighbors to the Savior of the world. Instead of being an outcast or a hated Samaritan, she was now an heir to God’s kingdom.

Jesus gives all of us a new story. A story of redemption, hope, joy, and a future despite our failures. He gives us His story and invites us into His work of making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The story Jesus has for you is so much greater than anything you could imagine, and so much more powerful than any failure.

What do we learn about the character of Jesus through His encounter with the Samaritan woman? In Luke 19:10, Jesus says, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus did not view this woman as an outcast even though the culture labeled her as one. Rather, He saw her as His created one, a child of God, one He loved deeply and called into His family. Jesus knew everything about this woman, and yet He still pursued her. His love runs deeper than the scars of our failures. Jesus offers salvation to all people (Romans 1:16).