Tuesday April 9, 2024

Today is Tuesday, April 9 and we are studying the Gospel of John chapter four.

Holy and loving God, as a new day dawns I praise your holy name. Thank you for your constant  presence in my life. I lift up my hands to rejoice in your love, care and companionship. Please provide your wisdom and guidance for today’s comings and goings. As I read from your Holy Word and reflect on John’s Gospel, speak to my heart through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” John 4:15-26

Jesus was in the midst of a conversation with a woman beside an ancient well in Samaria. Jews did not associate with Samaritans and rabbis certainly did not associate with or even speak to women. On top of that, this particular woman apparently had some questionable morals. She would have likely been a source of gossip in the small village and even potentially ostracized for her impropriety. She was a woman with a past and a sullied reputation. Perhaps that is why she came alone to fetch water in the heat of the day, instead of gathering with the other women early in the morning. She was a soul who needed Jesus, even though she didn’t realize it yet. Jesus has a heart for those in need.

Their conversation deepened as Jesus refreshed himself with the cool liquid. The woman drew him into an age-old debate between the Samaritans and the Jews about the proper place to worship God, Gerizim or Jerusalem. The woman’s understanding of worship was limited to a specific location – Mount Gerizim. Tradition taught her for generations that this was the place to worship God. Jews claimed this understanding was wrong and believed the one true place to worship God was at the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus forever removed the barrier of worship confined by locale. Worship happens in the temple of the heart.

Jesus knew everything about this woman. He knows everything about me as well. There is nothing to hide, for he sees my past, present and future. He knows me better than I know myself. Jesus was there beside an ancient well in the heat of a day and struck up a conversation. Jesus is here beside me in the comings and goings of my day ready to engage in conversation. Ready to reveal truth. Ready to answer questions. Ready to teach. Ready to comfort. Ready to guide.

The Samaritan woman knew the Messiah was coming and believed that when he did he would explain everything. Jesus took the opportunity to reveal his true nature and identified himself as the Messiah they had all been waiting for. If I stop in the midst of my busy day, pause my errand-running, stop my doing, halt the checking off of my checklist and rest beside the well of truth and listen, perhaps I will hear his voice. “I, the one speaking to you – I am he.” The Messiah. The Son of God.

Ask: Where might I anticipate meeting Jesus during my upcoming day? How can I find places to pause and listen for his voice speaking into my life?

Pause and Pray

Jesus, I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Teach me what it means to worship you in Spirit and in truth. Wherever you will be at work today, I want to serve alongside you. Help me find you in my daily comings and goings. You know me completely, Lord. Reveal what you see in my heart and life. Enable me to slow down, listen for your voice and learn from your guidance. Help me take time to sit beside the well with you and find the blessing of the Living Water only you can provide. Amen.

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