John 4. First a religious ruler named Nicodemus, and now a Samaritan woman at a well – these two could not be more different (and certainly would never have associated with each other). Yet John recorded a very important dialogue Jesus had with each of them.

The Samaritan woman at the well in chapter 4 is a bit confused why Jesus is talking to her, but she engages with him anyway. Jesus goes on to talk about living water – another fantastic visual image John includes in the narrative! Jesus says, I would have given you living water… Everyone who drinks of this (well) water will be thirsty again but whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. The water I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life (4:13-14). Jesus using the metaphor of living water to refer to salvation and the change within a believer because of the Holy Spirit.

Then Jesus puts this Samaritan woman on the spot by asking about her husband, knowing full well that she has been with at least six different men. She takes his forthrightness and unusual knowledge in stride, simply responding with Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet (4:19). I mean, what’s she going to say?! He knows already. We might think that he was trying to embarrass her, but that does not seem to be the case. In fact, it seems as though he is simply revealing to her that he knows her, he sees her, and he is concerned about her situation. We note later that many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did” (4:39).

I am very fond of this Samaritan woman! She rolls right along with an unusual situation and seems to grasp the significance of who Jesus is quickly. She refers to him as the Messiah, the Christ, and the Savior of the world. (More Jesus identity statements from John’s gospel!) Then she turns around and becomes a very effective evangelist, sharing her story and introducing Jesus to everyone in the town. He stayed with them for two days and many more believed because of his word (4:40).

John concludes this chapter with the second sign of Jesus’ identity and authority in his gospel (4:54). The first sign was turning the water into wine at the wedding in Cana (2:11). Next Jesus engages with an official whose son was ill. Jesus said simply, “Go, your son will live”. The man believed the word Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering (4:50-51). As a result of this sign of Jesus’ authority to heal sickness the man himself believed and all his household (4:53).

Has Jesus ever done something miraculous for you? Did you go and share your story with lots of other people, so that they too might rejoice and believe? That is what we are called to do.