Sunday Devotional: Leaving Our Water Jars at the Well

John 4: 27-30 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

I wish I knew her name. She had the most fascinating and personal conversation with Jesus, the type of exchange that I have dreamed of having with Him. They were an unusual pair talking together at Jacob’s well. First, she was a Samaritan, and Jews did not have dealings with Samaritans. Second, Jewish men did not talk to unaccompanied women. Indeed, the disciples were astounded and not a little dismayed and disturbed that Jesus was having a rather serious talk with a woman in a public setting but chose not to enquire about it!

I believe He went through Samaria for an appointment with a broken woman who needed His healing because Jesus knew where she would be at a specific time. He offered her living water, the Holy Spirit, that “bubbles up into eternal life” (John 4:14).

Jesus knew what her needs were. He knew that five husbands had divorced her and that that kind of rejection and abandonment left the soul so thirsty that only the living water from Jesus could quench it. She came to the well to receive nothing compared to what she found there: her Savior, the promised Messiah, who knew everything about her and still chose to talk to her and even debate theology with her!   

She became so excited to proclaim Him as the Messiah that she left her water jar at the well and ran to the village. She didn’t want that weight to hinder her. And what joy must have filled her heart as the people came streaming from the village to see Him!

We each have different “water jars” that we need to leave behind that can hinder us from telling others to “come see a man”! It may be a relationship that should have ended long ago. It could be remaining at a church or other religious entity where our talents aren’t used effectively. It could be staying in a job where we are mistreated and underappreciated.

In prayer, like the woman at the well, let’s “have a little talk” with Jesus and allow Him to assure us that He has all that we need. The living water He offered that day is still available to us today. It heals, helps, and gives us hope for eternal life.  

Amen.