Last week, we saw a momentous confrontation between Jesus and an unnamed, adulterous, Samaritan woman. In verse 7, Jesus broke three traditional taboos. First, He was talking to a Samaritan. The centuries old hatred of the Jews for the mixed race of Samaritans meant that even talking to one was unthinkable. Second, Jesus was talking to a woman – and not just that, she was a woman of a bad reputation. Culturally, there was little to no interaction between men and women. Marriages were arranged so you didn’t even need to talk to a woman or a man to get to know them. There was no speed dating! Yet Jesus is speaking to a woman in public. By the way, it would be the gospel and Christianity that would lead the way in giving women equal value and recognize the dignity of womanhood. Third, Jesus is asking her for water. To drink after a Samaritan or to use their dishes would be to share in their impurity. Jesus puts all that aside because a soul is at stake and He begins a dialogue with this woman about her deepest need.
I. A Momentous (3-6)
II. A Marvelous (7-15)
III. A Meaningful (16-26)
IV. A Miraculous (25, 28-29)