‘Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”’ John 4:1-10(NLT)
‘And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father’s flocks. But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks. When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, “Why are you back so soon today?” “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they answered. “And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks.” “Then where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us.” Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife. ‘ Exodus 2:15-21(NLT)
‘Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”’ Romans 10:12-13(NLT)
Today, we’re going to start exploring the story of Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman at a well, which is probably my favorite story yet. It’s full of rich symbolism and fascinating parallels!
It’s no coincidence that Jesus sat down to talk with this woman at the same well where Jacob met his bride Rachel. We also see in Exodus that Moses met his bride Zipporah at a well. Remember, wells were a common betrothal scene then.
In this culture, Jews and Samaritans were enemies. By sharing a cup with a Samaritan, a Jewish person would actually become ceremonially unclean. What Jesus was asking this woman to do would’ve been completely countercultural. Jews and Samaritans weren’t even permitted to speak to each other, much less share a cup.
On another note, she was a woman. For a man to speak to a woman he didn’t know in public was most unusual and greatly frowned upon. The intimate exchange between Jesus and this woman would’ve been deemed inappropriate and socially awkward.
Remember how a Jewish woman would accept a man’s proposal to enter into a betrothal? We keep seeing this running theme: A cup of wine would be poured for them to share. If she agreed to his terms, she would drink the cup of acceptance.
Do you see it? Jesus and the Samaritan woman were alone at a betrothal scene—the same one as other patriarchs of our faith—and Jesus was asking her to share a cup with him. I think it’s safe to assume that He was inviting her into a spiritual marriage contract.
She’s of course thrown off. She’s confused by why this man is even talking to her at all, much less why he’s asking her for a drink. He tells her that if she only knew the gift of God and who was asking her for a drink, then she would ask Him for living water, and He would give it to her.
So, what does this mean exactly? He’s offering her to share a cup of something infinitely better than the well water: His living water! This is the same living water foreshadowed at the wedding in Cana when Jesus turned water into wine. It’s a vivid description of His spirit that was coming soon.
Jesus was essentially offering this woman a marriage contract in eternity! He was also demonstrating the model of salvation to us: He pours out His spirit (the living water), we drink it (by saying yes), and we become forever betrothed to Him.
Don’t miss this: In this interaction, Jesus was clearly inviting the Gentiles into His plan for salvation. We’re all included—the Jew and the Gentile alike—and all we have to do is accept His invitation. He came from the Jews, but the Gentiles have been grafted into this plan.
Jesus asking this Samaritan woman to share a cup is symbolic of what His church will look like: people from all tribes and nations. He paid the bride-price for all of us with His blood.
Amazing stuff, huh?
from Will You Marry Me?