02/25/2015 WATER & WELLNESS
John 4:6-10 JESUS was tired from the long walk in the hot sun and sat wearily beside the well. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and JESUS asked her for a drink. HE was alone at the time as HIS disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised that a Jew would ask a “despised Samaritan” for anything---usually they wouldn’t even speak to them!—and she remarked about this to Jesus. HE replied: “If you only knew what a wonderful gift GOD has for you, and who I am, you would ask ME for some living water. [Living Bible Translation]
The Samaritans and the Jews
In John 4:7 JESUS encounters a woman at a well. HE asks her for drink. The woman is surprised. If fact, she is a bit shocked that HE would speak to her. She only saw “a Jew.” In turn, she thought HE only saw a “despised Samaritan.” But, in fact, JESUS saw her and all her wellness needs.
To understand why the woman at the well in John 4:7-10 had such a strong reaction to Jesus asking her for a drink of water, it helps to understand a little about the history of the hostility between the Jews to the Samaritans. This hostility probably existed at least 800 years before this woman met JESUS.