The Woman at the Well of Jacob

Have you ever found yourself so embroiled in family arguments during Christmas that you preferred to eat alone in your room rather than subject yourself to endless discussions and verbal jabs at the dinner table? Sometimes conflicts cause us to withdraw and choose loneliness over facing the stares and animosity of colleagues, neighbors, or relatives. Sometimes it's our own shame because we know we've hurt others with our behavior, but we just don't know how to mend the situation.

The Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob was also in a situation that led her to withdraw from her community. While her neighbors went to the well at a time of day when the temperature was bearable, the Samaritan woman went at the hottest part of the day. There she meets Jesus, who asks her for water, seemingly unconcerned about the hostility between Jews and Samaritans or the fact that she is a Samaritan. Instead, he engages her in conversation, during which he reveals himself to her as the Messiah for the first time.

Jesus knows the woman's past intimately, and her lifestyle doesn't exactly align with divine commandments. But Jesus doesn't accuse her; on the contrary, he takes time with her. Instead of blaming her, he reveals to her that he has living water to give—a source that will quench the deepest thirst of her soul. The Samaritan woman realizes she is truly speaking with the Messiah. She runs back to her village and tells everyone about her extraordinary encounter with Jesus.

We, too, hide our true feelings out of fear of rejection or judgment. However, the story of the Samaritan woman at the well shows us that Jesus meets us in our loneliness and wants to satisfy our deepest longings and needs. We are to come to him, and he will supply us with everything we need for life. We might be in a situation where we want to hide because we feel abandoned, but every moment of our lives, Jesus stands beside us with open arms, waiting for us to run to him to be filled with his love and acceptance.

Next Step: Consider where you are seeking fulfillment in your life. Are there areas where you feel empty or dissatisfied? Pray that Jesus will give you the living water that satisfies your thirst.