NEW TESTAMENT CHARACTERS.

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL.
John 4 contains a vivid eyewitness account of events which were credible when they happened, but, owing to changes in the relationship between Jews and Samaritans, could not have been envisaged a generation later. (A century before Bishop Robinson’s dating, Dr Edersheim quoted this as evidence that John’s Gospel was written early not late; so these two great scholars agree.)

Pictures of Jesus alone by the well are not authentic, one disciple at least would have stayed with Him and heard the conversation. Samaria was unfriendly to Jews, not yet so hostile as to prevent trade or even hospitality, but not the place to leave one man alone while six go to buy food.

Jesus is returning from that first campaign with His six early disciples. They have had a tiring walk from Judea and have reached the outskirts of the town of Sychar in Samaria. Here is the historic well attributed to Jacob himself.

Jesus sits, apparently with John, on the parapet while the others go to the town. A woman comes with a water pot to fill at the well and Jesus asks for a drink.

From His accent as well as from His clothing she realises He is a Jew and so begins a conversational skirmish. She has a Jew at a disadvantage and means to enjoy it. Yes she will gladly draw water for Him - it is a small service in a hot dry country where no one refuses water to a thirsty person, even an enemy - but she will make the most of it.

“Well just fancy, you Jews will have nothing to do with us Samaritans, but you don’t mind asking for a drink.”

She has no idea what will follow. She is probably willing for a flirtation if one is offered, otherwise a cheerful chat. In fact His answer is intriguing, enigmatic, mysterious.

“If you knew God’s gift and who is asking you for a drink, you would be asking me for a drink of fresh spring water.”

She knows He is saying more than is contained in the words and this is just the sort of game she had hoped for.

“Fresh spring water Sir, and where will you get that from? It’s a deep well and you haven’t got a bucket. Or are you somebody special, greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well. He used to drink here himself you know, and his sons and herds.”

He keeps the curiosity alive.

“And yet when you drink this water, you will be thirsty again. The water that I give is different. You never thirst again because it turns into a spring inside you and goes on bubbling up for ever.”

She is definitely interested and plays along with the imagery.

“It would be nice not to have to come here every day for water. Sir, I’m not sure what you are getting at, but I would like to have it.”

Jesus has captivated her interest and up to this point the conversation has been on a light note. He is pushing the constraints of the culture to their limit - but to talk seriously with a woman alone would be a breach of both Jewish and Samaritan propriety. His next statement tells her that the conversation is now going to be serious business and also that He is not prepared to break the rules.

He says, “Go and fetch your husband.”

Now the woman is on the defensive. “I have no husband.”

At this point Jesus uses what in modern church circles would be called “a word of knowledge” or statement inspired by The Holy Spirit and showing supernatural insight.

“That’s right; so you haven’t. You have had five husbands and the man you have now is not your husband. You told the truth.”

Instantly and not surprisingly, she changes the subject. He has supernatural knowledge, very well, she will ask Him a religious question.

“Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Tell me, our fathers worshipped on this mountain but you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place to worship.”

He does not object to her dodge. She has changed the subject to one she regards as safe. He answers her. She has asked about worship, very well if that is what interests her He will move her on from there.

“Believe me the time is coming when worship will be neither here nor in Jerusalem. True worshippers will worship the Father honestly from their hearts, those are the kind of worshippers the Father is looking for. God is spirit himself and must be worshipped in spirit and truth.”

Only a few minutes earlier He aroused her curiosity with a hint of something beyond her. Now He introduces her to a Heavenly Father. She can know Him and relate to Him. Her attempt to change the subject has brought her right to the point.

She takes refuge in one more platitude.

“Ah well, we shall know all about these things when Messiah comes. He will tell us everything won’t He.”

“You are talking to Him now.”

That is enough. She is convinced. She leaves her water pot and runs to the village to call her neighbours. She has found the Messiah.

Jesus seemingly bypassed many steps which a modern evangelist would consider necessary. At no point did He condemn any part of her lifestyle. He did not need to, she was ashamed of it herself. What He had done was reveal that He knew about it and yet was still interested in her - even willing to declare His identity to her.

She left Him certain of several things - she had met Messiah, He knew about her lifestyle and still accepted her, He had told her of a Heavenly Father whom she could know and worship from the heart.

Jesus and His disciples stayed two days in the village and it may have been the most receptive community they had yet found. It all began with a drink of water.

Comment.
The interviews with Nicodemus in John 3 and the Samaritan woman in John 4 are remarkably similar. The two people could hardly have been more different, yet in each case Jesus caught their interest with a parable of something mysterious and out of reach - new birth from the the wind and a fresh spring of water inside oneself. He led them on to an understanding of what it is to be related to God, to know His acceptance and His life. The Gospel essentials that God is real, can be known and accepts people as they are - these are implied but only after interest has been aroused.

John 4