It is important to understand the background surrounding this particular passage of scripture. The Jews hated the Samaritans and the Samaritans hated the Jews. Their hatred for one another primarily centered around the fact that they disagreed on several things concerning God. Their hate grew to such an extent that they refused to speak to one another. When traveling, they would bypass one another on the road to avoid even their shadows touching. As Jesus learns of the fear that the Pharisees had concerning His rising popularity, He decided to leave Judea and go to Galilee. Normally, Jews traveling from Judea to Galilee would take the long way around to avoid going through Samaria. Jesus, however, made an interesting statement when He said, “I must go through Samaria.” In Jesus’ determination to go through Samaria and in His encounter with a Samaritan woman, there are five basic truths that we learn about God.

                God’s Sovereignty. As Jesus and His disciples approach a city of Samaria, they come across a well. This is believed to be one of the wells that Jacob dug. After traveling some distance, they were tired and Jesus sends His disciples into the city to buy food while He remained at the well to rest. While at the well, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. It is interesting to note that this took place in the middle of the day, in the heat of the day. Typically, women would come to the well in the early morning or late evening when it was cool. The well was a place for women to also gather socially and exchange the latest news of the day. However, this woman would not go to the well with the other women. She came alone in the hottest part of the day. The odds of Jesus encountering anyone at the well at this time of day was very slim. Yet, here was this Samaritan woman. Earlier, when Jesus mentions He must go through Samaria, there was a reason for that. When Jesus sent His disciples into the town to buy food, there was a reason for that. When Jesus sat alone at the well to rest, there was a reason for that. You see, He knew that the woman would be there. He knew that she needed Him in that moment at that exact time. Here we learn of the Sovereignty of God. Nothing that Jesus did while on earth was done by accident. It all had a purpose. God is all-knowing. He knows everything about us. He knows exactly what we need when we need it. By His hand, He orchestrates Divine appointments and circumstances in our lives to bring us to a place to meet Him. Isn’t good to know that God is sovereign? That He cares so much for us that He knows exactly what we need when we need it. What a wonderful truth! A lesson is learned here. We need to be careful that we are not distracted so that we may be aware of how God is working around us so that we do not miss out on His best for us.

                God’s Gift. As the Samaritan woman approaches the well, Jesus asks her to give Him a drink. The woman is shocked. First of all, Jesus was a Jew. How is it that a Jew would speak to her or even acknowledge her existence? Secondly, she is a woman. In the culture of that day, women were looked at as lesser than men. The idea that a man would speak to a woman in this setting was even more reason for her to be shocked. Jesus said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who speaks to you.” Jesus was talking about Himself. He is God’s gift to the world. God has given the greatest gift anyone could ever give, the gift of Himself. Without this gift we have no hope. Our entire lives, our future, is dependent upon this gift. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” In 2 Corinthians 9:15, Paul said, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  This indescribable gift is none other than Jesus Himself. What a wonderful gift that God has given!

                God’s Provision. Jesus tells the Samaritan women that if she knew who was speaking to her she would ask Him and He would give her “living water.” The woman does not understand what Jesus is talking about and He explains to her that the water that He could give her would be a well springing up for eternal life. Jesus is giving a hint as to who He is and what He can do for her. Jesus is the giver life. It is only through Him that one may have eternal life. Jesus came as the sacrificial Lamb of God to make a way for all who believe in Him to live forever with Him. Just as God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead of his son; God has provided His Son as the Lamb of God to provide salvation.

                God’s Glory. The Samaritan woman responds to Jesus’ offer of living water with a desire to have this ‘living water.’ Jesus tells her to go and get her husband and then He would explain to her all things. The woman responds by saying that she does not have a husband. Jesus tells her that she is correct that she has no husband for she has had five husbands and the man she is living with is not her husband. Again, the woman is amazed. How can Jesus know so much about her? She perceives that He must be a prophet. The woman goes on to inquire about worship and how and where they are to worship and the differences in the understanding of Jews and Samaritans. Jesus explains to her that the time is coming when people will worship in spirit and in truth and that God desires people to worship Him in that way. Basically, Jesus is saying that it does not matter where you worship God, as long as He is glorified. The ultimate desire should be that God is glorified above all things. God is not concerned with our preferences in worship, for worship is not about us, it is about Him. When we get hung up on our preferences when it comes to styles of worship, we are basically worshipping ourselves rather than worshipping God. We are worshipping our personal styles and methods rather than worshipping Him. This is nothing more than idolatry. Instead, we are to worship in spirit and in truth. We are to simply worship God. For it is all for His glory. We live, we breath, we exist, we work, we sing, all for God’s glory. When we make it about ourselves and what we like or don’t like, we fail to give Him glory. Worship is about Jesus and nothing else. It is all for God’s glory!

                God’s Revelation. The Samaritan woman concludes that she knows the Messiah is coming who will explain all things to them. Jesus responds by simply saying, “I am He.” Jesus makes a clear revelation that He is indeed the Messiah. Later we learn that the woman goes back into town to tell the people what she experienced and how Jesus may be the Messiah. As a result of her testimony, many others believe on Jesus.

                The account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman reminds us of the truth that Jesus is truly the Savior. Therefore, He alone should be worshipped and He alone should be glorified. May God help us to not allow our worship to become something that we create according to our own liking. Rather, that we would worship Him simply for who He is and for His glory.