JESUS AND THE OUTCAST WOMAN AT THE WELL #holywater

The story of Jesus and the outcast woman at the well is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 4, verses 4-42. Here is a summary of the story along with a key Bible verse:

Jesus was traveling through Samaria when he arrived at a town called Sychar. Tired from his journey, he sat down by a well while his disciples went into town to buy food. A Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well, and Jesus asked her for a drink.

Surprised that Jesus, a Jew, would speak to her, a Samaritan woman, she asked him why he was asking her for a drink. Jesus replied, "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." (John 4:10)

The woman didn't understand what Jesus meant and asked him if he was greater than their ancestor Jacob who gave them the well. Jesus explained that whoever drinks the water from the well will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water he gives will never thirst again. This water will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

The woman was intrigued and asked Jesus to give her this water so that she would not have to keep coming to the well. Jesus then told her to go and call her husband. When the woman admitted that she had no husband, Jesus revealed that he knew she had had five husbands and the man she was with at the time was not her husband.

Amazed by Jesus' knowledge, the woman recognized him as a prophet and asked him about the proper place to worship. Jesus explained that true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that the time is coming when true worshipers will worship the Father in any place.

The woman then said, "I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Jesus responded, "I, the one speaking to you—I am he." (John 4:25-26)

The woman left her water jar and went back to the town, telling the people about Jesus. Many Samaritans believed in Jesus because of her testimony. They invited Jesus to stay with them, and he stayed for two days, teaching and revealing himself as the Savior of the world.

This story highlights Jesus' compassion and his willingness to cross cultural and social boundaries to bring the message of salvation. It also emphasizes the importance of true worship and the living water that Jesus offers, which brings eternal life.