“There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink.’ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’ She said to Him, ‘Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?’ Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.’” – John 4:7-14
Yesterday, we talked about the fact that Jesus was tired. If you’ve still got yesterday’s storyboard going in your mind, this would be the second scene: Remember, Jesus was worn out and by Himself. It was around noon, so His disciples had gone off into the city to buy food. Then comes this Samaritan woman and Jesus realizes there’s an opportunity to have a spiritual conversation with someone. All of a sudden, tired or not, He saw a chance to talk to her. And so His opening line is, “Give Me a drink.” Now, on the surface, that opening line doesn’t exude much charm. He doesn’t even say, “Could you, please…”
Bear in mind that not only was Jesus tired, He was talking to a Samaritan woman – something no Jewish man would do. He didn’t care about the 700-year grudge between the Jews and Samaritans. He just saw a woman who needed the Lord. Was she immediately drawn to Him? Not at all. She asked Him, “Why are you talking to me?” So, Jesus immediately turned a simple request into a spiritual conversation, telling her about Living water. He knew that nobody went to the well to get water at noon, and He could sense that she was deeply wounded inside. Did she automatically understand about Living water? Nope. But, that didn’t deter Jesus.
So, the conversation about Living water continues in tomorrow’s devotion. For today, remember, Jesus was tired, but not too tired to see the needs in someone’s life. How do we act when we’re tired? Do we become grouchy and couldn’t care less about the needs of anyone else? Or do we still keep our eyes and hearts open for opportunities to love people like Jesus did? And that’s something to think about.
(Adapted from sermon by Thomas Nelson)
