You will never be the same again

Today we had the opportunity to go to Fedor in Lee County to the home place to take some pictures for our daughter’s High School Graduation. Every chance we get it’s fun to get away. I am a history buff, so it’s fun to uncover old treasure, even though it is generally covered in rust.

Below the house there is a shallow well. Best estimate it has been there for almost 90 years. It still has water in it and has only gone dry a couple of times. Prior to this luxury, water was hauled from a creek several hundred yards from the house.

The last few days I have been reading about another well with great significance in The New Testament book of John Chapter 4. That is Jacob’s Well, which he dug to provide continual fresh water. Four thousand years later it is still providing water for who ever is thirsty. Our story starts with

Our story starts with Jesus getting ready to travel to Galilee from Judaea, but he had a need to go through Samaria which was actually a need to meet a woman in her crisis.

I can only guess the stunned look on the disciples’ faces as they then had to decide who would question our Lord, but here they went anyway. Samaritans were a rag tag group that the Jews looked down on. They claimed to be remnants of a tribe of Israel that escaped slavery and believed they were to protect Moses’ mountain.

One of the things only Jesus can do is that he meets you at your need at the right time. He sits on the well as the woman approaches at midday. Some say there are fewer people at the well, making it easier to avoid crowds. Little did she know this was the most important day of her life. Jesus confused her by his asking for her to draw water. She focused on the earthly outside view, while Jesus was interested on the inside, her heart. He didn’t tear her down, he gave her a way out and up from her sin.

By this time she knew he was for real, but when he asked about her husband and she told him she had none to throw him off. He corrected her saying she had five previous husbands and was living with a sixth man. I’m sure her head was spinning as Jesus offered her Living Water from which she would never thirst again. John in this Gospel, that shows Jesus as the Christ. Like anyone else Christ changes, she shared it even with the men she had married. Her testimony caused a Revival in her town that affected many.

I have read several theological views about this story, but I am a little simple. What I get out of it is that Jesus loves you unconditionally, and when you call out he will be there already waiting for you right where you are.

One thing is for sure: you will never be the same again.