Monday Musings: Drink Up

"Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He.'"  John 4:26

I have always loved the account of the woman at the well.  Every aspect of this story stirs my heart.  She is a Samaritan.  She has been married multiple times and is living with a man at the time.  She is an outcast - coming to draw water in the afternoon when no one else is around. 

And then Jesus . . .

This woman who has lived a life wrought with disappointment meets the Giver of Life face to face.  A Jewish man engages her in conversation - What's up?  Not only that, but He seems to know everything about her life.  What?  Her spiritual curiosity is immediately peaked. 


So . . . she finds herself in a conversation at a well with God Himself.  

I love how Jesus reveals Himself to the most unlikely people in the most unlikely situations.  It was so unexpected.  It was so Jesus.

The outcast gets to share a drink of water with God Himself.  In this brief conversation, Jesus reveals much about Himself.  He tells her that He is Living Water - that He is All-Knowing and that He is True Worship.  He actually reveals Himself as The Christ - which He rarely did in such emphatic terms.

Why?  What was it about this woman and this encounter that was so different?


Maybe that the depth of her need was so great?


Maybe because her curiosity was peaked?


Maybe her brokenness?


Maybe the fact that her heart was still tender in the midst of her sin and suffering?

I'm not sure, but this encounter was life changing for both her and her whole village. 

I think it was important for the disciples as well. 

It served notice that everything was about to change.

It was a sign that the gospel was about to burst forth and break down multiple barriers.

They needed to know this.

I love that Jesus chose to declare His deity to a woman in Samaria who hadn't a friend in the world.

He is still doing this today . . . will you be His hands and feet in this radical revolution?