‘Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”’
John 4:13–14
Throughout the four Gospels we see Jesus meeting and blessing individuals. Here we see Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well at about 12 noon. It was hot. Jesus asked her for water. The woman was most surprised that Jesus, a Jew, a man, would speak to her. There were differences in politics, race, customs and religion between the Jews and the Samaritans. Unfortunately the Jews and Samaritans had allowed these differences to create much bad feeling or hatred.
Jesus is different because He loves and respects all people. Jesus had to go through Samaria to meet this woman in order to bless her. Jesus says to the woman:
‘“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 4:18–19
Jesus, the Prophet, had a word of knowledge about the woman’s past and how she was living now. The gift of knowledge is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:6). These gifts are available to Christians today. Jesus was specific: ‘You have had five husbands,’ He told her. The woman recognised and acknowledged Jesus as a Prophet and told Him so. The Samaritan woman went to tell the people from the town and because of her testimony many believed in Jesus. The Samaritans urged Jesus to stay and He did for two days; many more became believers. They believed Jesus was the Saviour of the world.
Jesus offered the Samaritan woman the greatest gift of God and that Christ Himself could give it if she asked. Jesus called this gift living water, meaning eternal life with the Holy Spirit. Christ offers this gift today.