Grace and Truth, John 4:1-30

I love reading about Jesus dealing with women.

Not only because it gives me hope for the forgiveness Jesus has given me. And it does give me great hope. But also because of the special care and responsibility it seems Jesus gave to women.

Women would not have been respected much in Jesus’ time. Those who were seen as sinful women would have been even more harshly looked down on.

I believe I’ve heard it said that this Samaritan woman came to the well at a time when no one else usually did, because she would have been looked down on by the other women if she came when they did. But Jesus opened wide the door to accept her.

It may seem that he is being harsh with her, pointing out her sins so openly. But, we can know for sure that God already knows our sin, and I praise him for giving me the chance to talk to him about it and be forgiven.

It did make the woman uncomfortable, because she decided to, instead of talking about her sin, argue with him about where was the proper way to worship.

In the end, though, she believed he was the Messiah. She forgot about the reason she came to the well, and hurried in to tell more people about him. It seemed she didn’t try to hide her shame. She wanted people to know Jesus. And He was happy to have a woman, even a shameful woman, bringing people to meet him.

Such a wonderful example I want to follow. Believing in my forgiveness and sharing it excitedly with others.

John 4: 25-26: The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

Verses 28-30: Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.