An Unlikely Sister
Barbara Thompson, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
I who speak to you am he.
John 4:26
In Monday’s devotional, I shared: “When Jesus arrested me, I had a pamphlet (remember those?) that told the story of the woman at the well. Her story became a testimony for me as a young believer. In writing this devotional, I have been reminded of the power of this woman’s ancient story.”
If the nameless woman at the well was telling us her story, she would likely include the details John writes: “A Jewish man came to Jacob’s well in Samaria at noon and asked me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink!”
With bewilderment, she might say:
“You won’t believe how this man answered when I wondered why He would talk to me. He said He could give me living water. I quickly told Him that would be impossible since He had nothing for drawing from this deep well and couldn’t be greater than Jacob. I let Him know this water was mine as an inherited right from our father Jacob. When He told me about a living water welling up from a spring of eternal life where I would never thirst, I asked Him to give it to me.
“This man told me to get my husband. Somehow, He already knew I didn’t have a husband but had been with a series of men. I realized then He was a prophet and that I had heard of His way of worship. The man told me about true worship and I understood He meant the Messiah is coming. When He told me ‘I who speak to you am He’ I was astounded.
“The man’s disciples were amazed He was talking to me, but they didn’t ask any questions. I was so excited I left my water jar and went into town and told everyone I met, ‘Come, and see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’ ”
The Samaritan woman knew her people were part of Jacob’s family. She knew about worship and the promise of the Messiah. She also was very aware a Jewish man should not be talking with her. But she didn’t know God’s providence in “passing through Samaria” and that she would become a bridge for the Gospel.
The effects of her lost condition are evident in her story. She was a racially hated Samaritan and a sexually fallen woman. The woman denied her sin but Jesus reveals Himself as He calls out her sin. The Gospel Transformation Bible commentary reminds us “The gospel is bad news before it is good news. The living water of grace is sweet only to those who know the bitter taste of their sin.” When she saw her sin, she saw the true identity of Jesus.
Grace, grace, the thirst-quenching living water. “The water that I give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” and the most precious revelation – “I who speak to you am He.”!!
The Messiah, the Savior of the world becomes not only the hero but, the BIG story as the woman shouts her story with self-revelation and eagerness. And many believed!
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Read our Samaritan sister’s story with fresh eyes and begin to think of your own story. “What” has God said – in creation and in His Word? What are the effects of the fall? How has Jesus appeared? What do you know from your story about your sin and your need of the Savior? Whose story are you telling as you go?
PRAYER
God of heaven and earth, thank You for telling us Your Story in stories. And thank you for sending the Word made flesh and the record we have of His story. By Your Spirit, please enter into our hard stories, especially, and show us You have always been at work in them and will finish them for Your Glory and our good. Amen
Your Story: If you have written a story, consider editing it with emphasis on setting and details of time, place, people, and history. Write about all of your senses – what do you see, taste, smell, touch, hear?
Read the passage, John 4:1-42, and consider all of the details of the Samaritan woman’s story. Why do the details matter?
For example, this is the only mention of Jacob’s well in all of Scripture. Is it possible that this particular well is a way of God memorializing this woman’s story of redemption? When we research the location and details of that well we see God’s meta-narrative of bringing all nations and tongues, the unwelcome and unworthy into His family and keeping His ancient promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… and us.
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Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
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Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.