Third Sunday of Lent  John 4:5-42     Feb 24, 2008

The story in John 4 invites us to eavesdrop on an amazing conversation – the longest sustained conversation recorded in the Gospels.  Jesus holds a longer conversation with this woman at the well than he ever did with any of his disciples; longer than he talks to any who argued with him; longer than to anyone in his family – including his mother.   

But it’s not just the length of the conversation that stands out.  It’s also its context and content.  The conversation takes place at Jacob’s well where the famous ancestor Jacob drew water. But what’s significant is that this well is in the Samaritan city of Sychar – a place most first century Jews would have avoided.  

They would find it wiser to stay clear of an estranged neighbor than to risk a confrontation.  Jews and Samaritans had no dealings with each other, and the only way to change that would be for one to risk seeking reconciliation with the other.  And that is what Jesus came to do. 

But what makes this conversation even more amazing is that Jesus, the Jew talks to a woman of Samaria .  Eyebrows would have risen.  Gossip lines would be long.  But to demonstrate reconciliation, what stronger statement could be made than to go to someone on the bottom of acceptability.  If she is accepted – a Samaritan woman – how much more so will everyone else be!   

This remarkable conversation made clear that the love Jesus came to show to the world extended across all kinds of boundaries and barriers.  The text speaks to the history of the Samaritan people when it notes that the woman had had five husbands.  Samaritans had worshiped five different gods over the years and now worshiped another.     

So the context is startling with this conversation taking place in Samaria , with a woman, but the content is what really gets to us.  The conversation begins in a most unusual way.  Jesus asks something of the woman.  He asks her for a favor.  If you want to begin a relationship, ask someone a favor.  It sets up the possibility for an exchange.  And the woman is shocked: “How is it that you a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria ?”  She is flabbergasted!   

And Jesus raises the stakes even higher: “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, ‘give me a drink’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”   It is easy to keep conversations on the surface – to not reveal anything beyond “Hello, how are you?  I’m fine, and you?”   But how thirsty people are for deeper connection!  It has long been known that human beings long for communion.   

We know the research on the babies who had been left untouched and uncuddled for so long that they simply shriveled up and died.  When we live devoid of meaningful connection we literally waste away.  We need to know that we have been seen somewhere by someone in a way that made us feel we belong and are beloved.  We need to be seen and touched and heard into existence.

In this exchange between Jesus and the woman at the well, Jesus asks for a drink – not so much because he wanted water.  We don’t know whether the woman ever gave him a drink or not.  Jesus asked for a drink to model God’s way towards us.  The woman is every woman – every Samaritan – every person who has not yet heard that they are beloved and beheld by one who sees them and knows them and accepts them. And that was Jesus’ mission – to get that message out to all people – even the least expected. 

This story in John’s Gospel is the story of Jesus’ mission extending to the Samaritans and if to them – then to the entire world – witnessing to God’s love; which like the sun, shines over all. Today’s story takes place at noon – the brightest time of day – unlike last Sunday’s story which took place at night. In John 3, Nicodemus came to Jesus in the dark.  And he remained in the dark throughout the story. In today’s story a woman is met by Jesus in full daylight – at high noon.  She is one who thirsts for the light and finds it.   

And we know her thirst is met because she does something very odd.  One of her most valuable possessions must have been her water jug.  Water is essential – and for people who in the first century – or today, as with our companions in Rwanda – gathered water from wells, water jugs were and are a necessity.  What is odd is that this woman leaves her water jug behind as she goes to tell others of this one who has met her at the well.   

To have met at a well would signal something.  A well was a typical place in the Bible for life-changing interactions.  It is not insignificant that other Biblical women like Rachel, and Rebekka and Zipphora all met their husbands at wells – meetings that changed their lives.  John’s Gospel is filled with metaphor.  Jesus comes as the bridegroom inviting all of us to the wedding banquet.   

There is also metaphor around her leaving her water jar behind. One thing it suggests to me is that this woman learned that at a deep level she does not have to keep trying to quench her own thirst.  She has now been encountered by one who can quench her thirst far better than her own striving.  How often we try to fill our own or each other’s needs in efforts that simply cannot meet the depth of our thirst.  How often does the church try to serve every cry when our humble water jars simply cannot meet the depth of thirst.  

How good it is to realize, individually and as community, that we are not the well.  We are not the well!  And while our water jars have a place, they are not large enough for the mission God calls us to.  Jesus meets the woman where she has come over and over again with bucket in hand to try to quench her own thirst.  The power of the encounter with Jesus is that she realizes the bucket is now not only inadequate, but that it is also unnecessary – so she leaves it behind. The living water Jesus gives is so refreshing that no bucket can contain all that the woman now holds in her heart.   

On a spiritual level, whatever jar or jug or habit or fear or agenda or addiction or compulsion or rescue plan through which we try to quench our thirst, they cannot meet our deepest need.  And the good news of this story is that God, in Christ, can!  

Discipleship is about inviting people to this amazing gift.  In today’s story, all the woman did was to go to the city to tell others about Jesus and invite them to come and see for themselves.  We have an opportunity before us.  Holy Week is coming soon with Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, a lovely one hour Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday and festive worship on Easter Sunday morning.  Who might you invite to come to the font of refreshment?  Who might you bring with you to see God’s love for the world?  Who might be thirsting to leave their jars in exchange for an overflowing heart?   

May we together ask God to help us with the mission to which we are sent.  Let us pray,  “Loving God, you meet our deepest thirst through Christ Jesus our Savior.  Send us now into your thirsty world that we might invite others to come and drink from the fountain of living water. Draw to our hearts and minds people in our acquaintance who we might invite to come and see Christ among us this Holy Week.  In Christ, we pray.”   

      Amen.   

+Pastor Peg Schultz-Akerson, to the glory of God

Faith Lutheran Church, Chico, CA