The Samaritan Woman at Jacob's Well

Update: I previously titled this entry as the "4th part of my reflection on Jacob's life". However, I felt that it wasn't a fitting title, so I've renamed it accordingly. 

In John 4, we read of the dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. As I read the account, I couldn't help noticing a few things. 

Source: Internet

1. Note how the woman of Samaria addressed Jacob. 

John 4:11-12 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

We know that Jews had no dealings with Samaritans (John 4:9) and yet this Samaritan woman identified Jacob as "our father who gave us the well". 

What's more? This woman knew about the Messiah. She not only knew bout Him, she also knew that He is coming, and that when He comes, He knows all things and will tell all things. 

John 4:25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

For someone who is an outsider and has had no dealings with God's people, she is pretty amazing, isn't she? 

2. Did you realize that the woman of Samaria was an evangelist? 

After Jesus told her that He is the Christ that she was speaking about, she left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men (John 4:28). 

She could have stayed on with Jesus, received salvation for herself and went her way quietly. But no, she hurried away, leaving whatever she was doing and what she had (left her waterpot) and went to the men. 

Some commentators also said that she could be an outcast, who came to draw water at the well alone, at a different time from everyone else. As an outcast, what courage did she portray! 

And what she did lead to the salvation of many Samaritans of that city. Essentially, she was an evangelist of her time, wasn't she? 

3. The woman of Samaria had a remarkable evangelism style. 

It is also worthwhile to note her style of evangelism - she posed a question to them: Could this be the Christ? (John 4:29). 

She did not preach nor force any doctrine unto those she wanted to reach. She simply told them the truth - a Man who told me all things that I ever did (John 4:29) and invited them to come see for themselves. 

And what happened? 

Many Samaritans first believed because of the testimony of the Samaritan woman. But what followed after that was even more wonderful. 

John 4:39 - 42 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

After listening to Jesus, they now believe because they themselves had heard Him. 

4. We believe for we ourselves have heard Him. 

It is indeed great to learn the truth from the accounts and revelations of others. It is also wonderful to hear of testimonies. 

But how beautiful it is when one hears, believes and receives it because he/ she has heard and known it himself/ herself? 

Dear ones in Christ, how are you believing today? 

Are you believing because you yourself have heard Him and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world? 

May it be so with us as well - that 'we no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know.'