The Woman at the Well

On a trip from Judea back home to Galilee, Jesus and his disciples walked through the land of Samaria. The Samaritans and the Jews were neighbors, but they had argued for hundreds of years about how and where to worship God, and they usually kept apart.

Around noon, Jesus came to an old well near the town of Sychar. It was called Jacob's well, because people remembered it from the days of Jacob, long ago. Jesus was tired from walking, so he sat down beside it. His disciples went into town to buy food.

A Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus asked her for some. She was amazed. Why would a Jewish man ask her, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?

Jesus told her that if she knew who was asking, she would be the one asking him, and he would give her living water. She was puzzled. He had no bucket, and the well was deep! Jesus explained that anyone who drinks well water gets thirsty again. But the water he gives becomes like a spring inside a person, bubbling up with God's own life forever. The woman wanted that water!

Then Jesus showed her that he knew everything about her life, even the parts she hadn't told him. And he still loved her. He told her the truth gently, and he kept talking with her.

The woman realized Jesus must be a prophet. She said that one day the Messiah would come and explain everything. Jesus told her that he, the one talking with her, is the Messiah.

Just then the disciples came back. The woman left her water jar and hurried into town. She told everyone to come and meet a man who knew everything about her. Could he be the Messiah?

Many people came, and Jesus stayed with them for two days. They believed in him, and they said that Jesus truly is the Savior of the world.

Jesus came for everyone. He knows us completely, and he loves us completely.