Jesus Meets the Samaritan Woman

Jesus left Judea and travelled towards Galilee, passing through Samaria. Near the town of Sychar, he sat down by Jacob’s well, tired from the journey. It was about the sixth hour. While his disciples were away buying food, a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus asked her for a drink.

The woman was surprised that a Jew would ask for a drink from a Samaritan woman. Jesus told her that if she knew who was speaking to her, she would ask him, and he would give her living water. She thought about the deep well, but Jesus spoke of water that leads to eternal life, like a spring welling up within a person.

Then Jesus told her to call her husband. When she answered that she had no husband, Jesus showed that he knew the truth about her life. The woman realised he was a prophet and asked about the right place to worship. Jesus said the hour was coming, and now was, when people would worship the Father in spirit and truth. He also said salvation is from the Jews. When she spoke of the Messiah, Jesus revealed that he was the one speaking to her.

Just then the disciples returned and were surprised to find Jesus speaking with a woman, though they said nothing. The woman left her water pot, went into the town, and told the people to come and see a man who had told her everything she had done. Many went out to Jesus.

Meanwhile, the disciples urged Jesus to eat. He told them that his food was to do the will of the one who sent him and complete his work. Then he spoke of a harvest already ready, where one sows and another reaps, and where workers gather fruit for eternal life.

Many Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony. They asked him to stay, and he remained with them for two days. Many more believed after hearing him themselves. They said they now believed because they had heard for themselves and knew that Jesus truly is the Christ, the Saviour of the world. How did one conversation at a well lead many people to seek Jesus for themselves?