Stephan Hoffman

Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’  John 4:10 (NIV)

In Jesus time the Samaritans were regarded as “bastards”. The Jews looked down on the descendants of the 10 northern tribes of Israel because they had intermingled with the other nations around them. The Jews also sometimes described them as “the dogs”.  That is why Jews avoided talking to Samaritans especially not a Jewish man with a Samaritan woman. That is why the disciples found Jesus attitude towards the Samaritan woman surprising (v27). Nevertheless, Jesus concerns himself with this woman who furthermore led a wanton life (v18). He deals with her in what we, in today’s terms, would describe as a pastoral manner asking her questions leading to other insights.

Water was so important for life in that time, Jesus tells her that there is something such as “living water” which bubbles within you and gives eternal life. Even though she does not fully understand what he means, she realizes that there is more to this man than she first thought. The secret of his identity remains hidden from her until Jesus in verse 26 says, “I who speak to you, am he”. Through her witness, many Samaritans in the town became believers and accepted Jesus as the ‘Saviour of the world’ (v42).

After these events Jesus returned to Galilee and healed the sick child of a royal official simply by saying, “You may go, your son will live”.

Perhaps you sometimes think that you are not good enough and that God is not concerned about you. Maybe because you carried on sinning, you feel there is no turning back. Perhaps people place labels around your neck and call you all sorts of names? Remember that Jesus came to the world to bridge the gap between God and humankind and between people. He came to heal relationships broken by sin and selfishness. Come let us treat others with respect and love, in the knowledge that God’s love for all of us is everlasting.

Prayer: O God, please help me to remember that you are the source of living water. Please give me faith and strength to testify to your love. As you have treated me, let me treat others with love and respect.