Deeper ReflectionThe story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman draws
together all the threads of our biblical reflections this week. This
unnamed woman meets a unique Jewish man who broke all the
cultural taboos.
20 The man wanted a drink of water but in turn offered her
water that she would never thirst again. She tried to turn the conversation
into a theological debate;
21 instead, she ended up enlightened with the truth
about worship.
22 She began to view Jesus as the embodiment of truth and
the promised Messiah. The Samaritan woman was confronted with the
truth: she has had five husbands, and the one currently living with her is
not her husband.
23 She later went into the town and invited people to come
and see Jesus. Remarkably,
“because of the woman’s testimony”, many
Samaritans believed in Jesus (v.39)! And many more believed –
“because
of His word” – after they heard directly from Jesus (vv.40-42).What a spectacular transformation – from a dejected, rejected woman who
intentionally avoided people by going at the hottest hour to draw water, into
an enthusiastic, joyful herald of t
he Good News of the Messiah who has
come! Initially a person with a radically different worldview,
24 her life was
redeemed and radically transformed after being confronted with the Truth.Our Christian worldview is coherent and corresponds with the truth – the
life-changing truth of Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross, His resurrection
and coming return. This truth is as relevant today as it was two thousand
years ago! Let us joyfully spread the truth so that through us many more
people may believe in
Christ the Saviour of the world!
20 Women seldom spoke to male strangers and Jewish people generally do not consort with Samaritans due to historical
animosities between these two ethnic groups of Semitic people.
21 This was the longstanding debate between the Jews and the Samaritans concerning the exact location for the worship of
God (vv.20-24)
22 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (v.24)
23 See verses 17 to 18.
24 Most commentators see her as an immoral woman ashamed to meet other townsfolk; she was also a Samaritan, with strikingly divergent historical and theological perspectives.
