Why I Could Identify With the Woman at the Well
A life changing encounter with Jesus
There is something about the story of Jesus’s encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well that never fails to touch my heart. In many ways, while reading or simply watching a scene about it, I can’t help but imagine that I’m the woman He is talking to.
Could you imagine it, too?
Jesus, tired from a journey, sat by the well. While He’s there, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. She was just doing her regular chore, and she had no idea that Jesus was there. Not only was He there, He saw her and talked to her. He drew her into a conversation that opened her heart. In one version of the story from the series “The Chosen”, Jesus even said He came all the way to Samaria to meet the woman. He had been waiting for her and knew her even before she came by the well!
And all the while, the woman had no idea why a Jew would talk to her and ask for water. Why would He? The woman can’t help but feel suspicious. She was so used to judgment and condemnation that she can’t believe someone would talk to her in good faith, Someone who cares, Someone who sincerely wanted to have a conversation with her.
“A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, ‘How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?’”
- John 4:7-9, WEBBE
Isn’t it the same with our encounter with Jesus?
He’s the One who approaches us first, the One who lets us know that there is still hope for us. No matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, He cares for us deeply and sees in us that person with God-given dignity. It is this unbelievable gesture that shocks us and makes us wonder. What has the Lord to do with us who are but sinful men? But He engages with us and answers our questions. He reveals Himself to us!
When a certain person with a high position in society passes by such as the King of a President of a country, it would be absurd for me to expect him to notice me or to pause for a while just to talk to me. But Jesus did all that to the woman and more! He knew her and He made her feel valued, respected and loved.
“The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming, he who is called Christ.† When he has come, he will declare to us all things.’
Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who speaks to you.’”
- John 4:25-26, WEBBE
It is no wonder then that the encounter with Jesus changed the woman.
She couldn’t help but declare what she has seen and felt. She couldn’t help but share the Good News with the people around her! Here is the Messiah, and He knew her! He talked to her and revealed Himself to her.
She became a witness to this Person, this Savior who saves not only in a generic way but in a very personal way, a Savior who knows your name and everything you’ve been through.
The Samaritans were deemed far from the Lord, but through this encounter with Jesus, they believed in Him. He has pursued them and they let Him in their hearts.
Fr. Robert Barron had this wonderful insight about this. He mentioned how an encounter with a person at the well has at various times signified marriage. One example is how the person Abraham sent to find a wife for Isaac found her at the well. Another was when Moses sat by a well and met his wife there.
Fr. Barron discussed how God wanted to be intimate with us, so intimate He wanted to marry His people.
How wonderful to reflect upon this thought as we think about the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus at the well.
“Don’t be afraid, for you will not be ashamed.
Don’t be confounded, for you will not be disappointed.
For you will forget the shame of your youth.
You will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more.
For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of Armies is his name.”
- Isaiah 54:4-5, WEBBE
Jesus waits for us and longs to draw us close to Him.
Could we lay down our defenses for once and learn to trust again? Could we allow ourselves to raise up our concerns to Him so that He may answer our questions and our longings? And could we allow Him to give us that kind of water that will fill the greatest thirst of our hearts?
“From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me everything that I have done.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” - John 4:39-42, WEBBE
“Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” – Pope Benedict XVI
“It is not because I have been preserved from mortal sin that I lift up my heart to God in trust and love. I feel that even had I on my conscience every crime one could commit, I should lose nothing of my confidence: my heart broken with sorrow, I would throw myself into the Arms of my Saviour. I know that He loves the Prodigal Son, I have heard His words to St. Mary Magdalen, to the woman taken in adultery, and to the woman of Samaria. No one could frighten me, for I know what to believe concerning His Mercy and His Love. And I know that all that multitude of sins would disappear in an instant, even as a drop of water cast into a flaming furnace.” – St. Therese of Lisieux
“Man is, of all creatures, beloved of God. God created man, and before creating him He thought of him, loved him. This is our treasure: God has loved us, He has created us in love, and because He loves us He wants to draw us back to Himself.” – Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus, OCD (Where the Spirit Breathes)
“I am thirsty, said Jesus on the cross… His thirst was not for water but for love.” – Mother Teresa, Heart of Joy
Who Broke Your Longing Heart?
I think every person has a story about one’s heart being broken. It need not be from a romantic relationship. But it certainly comes from having one’s longings crushed.
What was it that tore your heart into pieces? What was it that made you cry?
Was it a friendship that wasn’t able to support you in times when you needed it most? Was it a person you loved who betrayed your sincerity? Was it a dream that seemed so far away no matter how hard you tried to reach it?
Most of our hearts are broken.
We grieve the present when it’s no longer as fulfilling as the past. We grieve the past the we’ve forever lost. We grieve for the future we could never seem to control.
We dream, we strive, and we love. We try with all our might but we fail to succeed each time. We expect the best from people only to have our hopes dashed in the end.
When will our longings ever be fulfilled? How could our broken hearts ever be healed?
Wherever you may be, and however your heart may ache, I’d like you to know that there is One who can help you. Yes, there is One who loves you and who will never let you down. You may have heard about Him. You may not even believe He exists. Perhaps you may even hate Him. But I want you to try again. He has been pursuing you all along. Won’t you give God the chance to heal your broken heart?
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.” – Psalm 34:18, WEBBE
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God bless!