John 4:4-7 "And he must needs go through Samaria. (5) Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. (6) Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. (7) There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink."
Do you believe in divine appointments? God does not direct every step we make,
but there are certain things that God appoints to happen. Be assured if God
says something will happen, it's going to happen. I start today's writing in
this manner because verse 4 tells us that Jesus needed to go through Samaria. I
understand the geographical implications of this verse. I understand the
shortest distance between two points is a straight line. I understand to go
from Judea to Galilee (as Jesus was traveling), He had to go through Samaria.
But I also believe there was another reason why He needed to go through
Samaria. I believe there was a divine appointment that day for Jesus to have
this encounter with the Samaritan woman.
We find Jesus sitting on Jacob's well in the heat of the day around noon. He is
tired. Yes, Jesus, the man, experienced even the tiredness of body as you and I
experience. They had been walking quite a way. The disciples had gone into the
city to buy some food to eat. The woman approaches the well and Jesus initiates
the conversation. Aren't you thankful for the times Jesus initiates
conversations with you? He made a simple request of the woman: "Give me to
drink." Her response was one of surprise: "How is it that thou, being
a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?" This was a
simple request; yet, she was caught off guard because of the hatred between
Jews and Samaritans.
There was a conversation between Jesus and the woman in which He told her about
her life. How could this man, a stranger to her, know all about her life? And
beyond that, how could this man know all about her life AND still be willing to
have this conversation with her? He knew this woman had had five husbands and
was living with another at that time. It was during this conversation that the
woman became enlightened. If you read this fourth chapter of John, you will see
her understanding begin to unfold. First, she only saw a man sitting on the
well. Then she saw He was a Jew. Surely even in all this beginning
conversation, she saw the kindness and compassion of this one. We aren't even
told that she knew His name is Jesus. As they continued to talk, she perceived
He was a prophet. And then she realized Him to be THE MESSIAH.
Jesus began to speak to her about God and true worship. She knew the Messiah
had been prophesied and would explain all things to them when He came. It was
at that point Jesus told her, "I that speak unto thee am he."
"The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and
saith to the men, (29) Come, see a man, which told me all things
that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" (John 4:28-29)
As I type this writing, my heart is saying I want to hear Jesus speak to me.
Everytime I open my Bible, I want Jesus to speak to me. I want constant
affirmation that my Lord has come to me with "living water" that
satisfies the deepest need within me. I want Him to guide me into true and
proper worship. I want to honor Him. Then I want others to know that Jesus has
spoken and made such a blessed difference in my life.
I see a theme developing in the early portion of this book of John: "Come
and see." I pray you are making this journey with me in order that
we all might see Jesus is the Promised One and worthy of our devotion and
commitment.