A Divine Encounter: 3 Quick Lessons from the Woman at the Well

What does a divine encounter look like?

The woman at well is that unnamed woman in the bible who had a chance meeting with Jesus. I like to call it a divine encounter that transformed her life forever. Today, we will be looking at some quick lessons from the woman at the well.

Who is the Woman at the Well in the Bible?

This nameless woman in the bible also known as the Samaritan woman has almost an entire chapter in the bible devoted to her. Her story can be found in the book of John Chapter 4:1-42

She is that woman who had the honor of having a very long and revealing conversation with Jesus. And her conversation with this stranger she met at the well ended up setting her free from her shame. The woman at the well was privileged to experience Christ by getting a full revelation of who he really was. Others saw a part of him but she happened to have a life-changing encounter with him that led to her salvation.

The Samaritans were a group of people despised by the Jews and considered as outcasts in their society. This woman was not only a Samaritan, she was unmarried and living with a man openly. In fact, that man was the sixth in her life having been married five times. Her lone journey to the well also reveals her as a social outcast because in that time, women traditionally drew water in groups.

Her story begins when she goes to draw water from the well (Jacob’s well) located about a half mile from the city of Sychar in Samaria where she meets Jesus seated at the well.

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water; Jesus said to her, give me to drink. – John 4:7

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

This woman’s journey to the well was like a daily routine in her life. She was looked down upon by her own people and classified as immoral. So, at a particular time each day, while trying to avoid the long stares and whispering voices, she carries her water-pot to the well to draw some more water.

But on getting to the well that day, she meets a man seated there who asks her to give him water to drink. And then a conversation starts between them.

“When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. – John 4:7-9

 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.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

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.”  – John 4:10-15

Here she was at the well being asked by a Jew for water. This was perhaps her first surprise of the day. Jews usually had no dealings with Samaritans and he had no business asking her for anything. But Jesus who was on a mission to seek and save the lost looks beyond cultural and traditional expectations and kickstarts a conversation with her.

We have a God who would break protocol just to reach and save you from the clutches of darkness and sin. As she questions his motives, he reveals to her that he can give her living water. Her curiosity deepens as he speaks and then she says to him – “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

Have there been moments in your life where your soul yearned for more? Broken, hurt, abused, labelled and trapped in a life of sin – you long for a deeper meaning for your life and existence. Do you feel rejected, alone and like an outcast with no value and meaning to your life?

Today, I want you to know that you are valuable to God. He values you enough to actively seek you out to call you his own. The woman at the well longed for something deeper in her life. It was beyond her physical thirst – it was a thirst for love, purpose, value and hope. And so, she jumped at the offer of being given living water. Jesus was waiting right there to meet that need.

Jesus goes on to reveal to this her how that she has been married five times and that the man she was currently living with was not her husband.

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. – John 4:17-19

Her flaws, marital status, gender and identity did not stop Jesus from reaching out to her. He stayed with her until he revealed who he really was to her. This shows us that Jesus loves all people and wants to bring them into God’s kingdom. He wants to fill your heart with his love and use your story and testimony to bring glory to the kingdom of God. God wants you to see beyond your mistakes, burdens and past and embrace the new life (eternal life) which he alone can give you.

Perhaps you are like the Samaritan woman and have built many walls around your life for so long. You have tried so hard to mask your pain, sin and weaknesses. Jesus is waiting to reveal himself to you today.

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 4:25-26

He is the living water that can fill up the dark places in your life. In one woman’s thirst for a new life and salvation for her soul, she encounters the Savior – Jesus and her life is changed forever.

A Divine Encounter: 3 Quick Lessons from the Woman at the Well

1. Let God fill your empty places

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.”  – John 4:10-15

Jesus caught the attention of the woman at the well with his words of offering her living water. She jumps at it revealing that if he gives her this water, she won’t get thirsty or have to keep drawing water anymore. It was a silent call for wholeness and freedom. If he could fill her with this living water, that dryness, emptiness and deep hole in her life will be gone forever. But she had the courage to ask – “Sir give me this water.’

Is there a part of your life that feels dark, empty and broken beyond repair? Have you been drawing water from the wrong places to cover up your shame, pain and insecurities? Jesus is here and wants to fill up your empty places with his life and word.

But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. – John 4:14

2. Stay with Jesus

The Samaritan woman stayed with Jesus until she got her freedom. Knowing that the man seated at the well was a Jew was enough reason to keep her silent. But she stayed, conversed with him and was even curious to know more. She engaged Jesus and asked him questions.

How can you ask me for a drink?

Where can you get this living water?

Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us this well?

Her identity was enough reason for her to walk away, yet she stayed wanting to discover more and get answers to her questions. Jesus looked beyond who she was and revealed himself to her.

God does not see how deep your sin is or how dark your past is. He sees your potential, purpose and who he has created you to be.

Today, why not take a moment and stay in his presence. A lot can happen when you stay with Jesus and let him reveal himself to you. There are parts of God we will never experience until we seat still, quiet our soul from the noise around us and stay with Jesus the living word.

God is also waiting to hear your questions and all that you have to say to him. Never let your flaws, weaknesses and mistakes cause you to run away from God. Instead run to him and continue stay in his word.

In the presence of God, there is completeness, wholeness and transformation. And as you stay with God, he will fill you with his love and change you into the image of his son Jesus.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Psalm 16:11

3. Go and bring others into the Kingdom

This woman then left her water-pot and went her way into the city and saith to the men, come, see a man, which told me all the things that I ever did. Is this not the Christ? – John 4:24

When the woman at the well left her water-pot behind, it signified that the things that had held her down in the past had no power over her anymore. She was liberated after her conversation with Jesus.

Her ability to boldly walk into the city to share her testimony shows that she was a changed person. Jesus had restored her dignity and she confidently returned to her city to share her testimony. She was the key to winning the lost souls of many in Samaria, even though she did not know it. In an instant, she became an evangelist spreading good news everywhere she went. And today, her life still testifies of the transformation that comes with being with Jesus.

Your life or testimony might be the only Bible another man or woman may ever get to read. As many see the person you have become in Christ and get to hear or read your testimony, you will be amazed at how many doors of hope, freedom and salvation you get to unlock in your lifetime.

Use your story and testimony and go bring others into the kingdom. Has Jesus transformed your life? Let others experience his love and mercy through you today as you share with them about the person of Jesus.

Conclusion

A woman from Samaria came to the well to draw water and met with a certain man. She came to fill her empty water-pot but left the well that day with living water. She met a stranger at the well and left with a revelation of Christ. It is amazing to see how words can change a life. In her life-changing conversation with Jesus, she received a new life and found purpose for her life.

Jesus is more than a stranger – he is the savior who died to save us from a life of sin and destruction. And today, he wants to give you his free gift of salvation and a new life in Christ. Jesus is here and wants to transform your life and make you a citizen of his kingdom. Will you come to him today?

Prayer

Lord, I come before you today and release my fears, struggles and burdens to you. I confess my sins and receive this new life that you have to give. I ask that you fill up these empty places in my life with your love and mercy. Heal my broken places and release me from the mistakes of my past. Fill my life with your living water and help me to abide always in your presence. Today, I walk free and share the good news of Christ with those around me. Amen!

Read also:

How My Faith Has Changed Over the Years

The Parable of the Persistent Widow: Lessons in Perseverance and Unwavering Faith