You may already have an idea who this article is about from reading the title. However, before we go any further, I would like to change perspectives to have a more comprehensive understanding of the scene at the well, by looking at a broader view.

In the Bible we have the accounts of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33), the experience of Christ with ten lepers whom He healed while they were on their way to see the priests—but only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus (Luke 17:12–19). I’m sure that these stories were often repeated to us when we were children. Such stories make us believe that the Samaritans were very kind, loving people.

However, when we however read about the story of the Samaritan woman, we come to understand that there was some tension between Jews and Samaritans. “Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans” (John 4:9).

Interestingly the first mention of the Samaritans is found in 2 Kings 17:29, “Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.” From this verse, one can assume that the Samaritans were somewhat involved with other “gods.” Now later in the time of Christ, would this tension have been caused by religious differences?

The Spirit of Prophecy sheds more light on the history between the Jews and Samaritans: “When the temple at Jerusalem was rebuilt in the days of Ezra, the Samaritans wished to join the Jews in its erection. This privilege was refused them, and a bitter animosity sprang up between the two peoples. The Samaritans built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim. Here they worshiped in accordance with the Mosaic ritual, though they did not wholly renounce idolatry.”—The Desire of Ages, p.188.

“The Jews and the Samaritans were bitter enemies, and as far as possible avoided all dealing with each other. To trade with the Samaritans in case of necessity was indeed counted lawful by the rabbis; but all social intercourse with them was condemned. A Jew would not borrow from a Samaritan, nor receive a kindness, not even a morsel of bread or a cup of water.”—Ibid., p.183.

What a sad history! The reality is that around the world this is still happening today in various ways. Among humanity’s greatest weaknesses are prejudice and animosity.

“Prejudice is a terrible thing in the sight of God. It was prejudice that crucified the world’s Redeemer. Let us as a people put away all prejudice.”—The Review and Herald, October 24, 1893.

Although He was a Jew, how did Jesus treat others?

In Mark 7:25–30, we read of how Jesus helped a Greek woman form Syrophenicia, much to the surprise of His disciples, giving them an example of the work they were to do for all, and with the help of fellow believers from all nations. “Those who are hid with Christ in God will become instruments in God’s hands for the development of Christian virtues. All classes have a part to act.”—Ibid.

Returning back to the scene at Jacob’s well, what do we learn about the woman?

She came to the well at noon. (John 4:6)

She was alone. (John 4:7)

She did not enjoy coming to the well. (John 4:15)

She was only concerned about herself. (John 4:15)

She had no husband. (John 4:17)

She had a boyfriend. (John 4:17)

She had some knowledge of the scriptures. (John 4:19, 20)

This woman was living alone, currently not married. However, she had a “boyfriend” who likely did not live with her; therefore she had no urgency to come to the well in the morning which I would assume might have been a normal time to draw water. Since she had had a number of “boyfriends” (who possibly included married men?) the social embarrassment of past relationships had ruined her reputation among the other women. So perhaps she avoided going to the well when other people would be there. Yet she did have some knowledge of the scriptures.

Knowing all these things about the woman and the history between the Jews and Samaritans, Jesus spoke no words of judgment nor made any prejudiced remark against her. Instead, “Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink” (John 4:7).

Her natural prejudices suddenly arose and she became defensive.

“The woman saw that Jesus was a Jew. In her surprise she forgot to grant His request, but tried to learn the reason for it. ‘How is it,’ she said, ‘that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?’

“Jesus answered, ‘If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.’ You wonder that I should ask of you even so small a favor as a draught of water from the well at our feet. Had you asked of Me, I would have given you to drink of the water of everlasting life.’

“The woman had not comprehended the words of Christ, but she felt their solemn import. Her light, bantering manner began to change. Supposing that Jesus spoke of the well before them, she said, ‘Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast Thou that living water? Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself?” She saw before her only a thirsty traveler, wayworn and dusty. In her mind she compared Him with the honored patriarch Jacob. She cherished the feeling, which is so natural, that no other well could be equal to that provided by the fathers. She was looking backward to the fathers, forward to the Messiah’s coming, while the Hope of the fathers, the Messiah Himself, was beside her, and she knew Him not. How many thirsting souls are today close by the living fountain, yet looking far away for the wellsprings of life!”—The Desire of Ages, p. 184.

“Jesus did not immediately answer the question in regard to Himself, but with solemn earnestness He said, ‘Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ ”—Ibid., p. 187.

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly” (John 4:15–18).

This was the embarrassing moment. How did this Stranger know the secrets of her life? To avoid the shame, she abruptly switched the topic of conversation to religious controversy. Mere theory and Bible trivia tend to feel safe when people do not want to face the facts about their spiritual condition. Nothing wrong with theory and details, but many professed believers tend to hide there to escape the real issues standing between their own soiled souls and living a holy life.

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship” (John 4:19, 20).

“In answer to the woman, Jesus said, ‘Believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.’ Jesus had shown that He was free from Jewish prejudice against the Samaritans. Now He sought to break down the prejudice of this Samaritan against the Jews. While referring to the fact that the faith of the Samaritans was corrupted with idolatry, He declared that the great truths of redemption had been committed to the Jews, and that from among them the Messiah was to appear. In the Sacred Writings they had a clear presentation of the character of God and the principles of His government. Jesus classed Himself with the Jews as those to whom God had given a knowledge of Himself.

“He desired to lift the thoughts of His hearer above matters of form and ceremony, and questions of controversy. ‘The hour cometh,’ He said, ‘and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”—Ibid., pp. 188, 189.

“She began to have some conviction of His character. The question arose in her mind, Might not this be the long-looked-for Messiah? She said to Him, ‘I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus answered, ‘I that speak unto thee am He.’

“As the woman heard these words, faith sprang up in her heart. She accepted the wonderful announcement from the lips of the divine Teacher.

“This woman was in an appreciative state of mind. She was ready to receive the noblest revelation; for she was interested in the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit had been preparing her mind to receive more light. She had studied the Old Testament promise, ‘The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken.’ Deuteronomy 18:15. She longed to understand this prophecy. Light was already flashing into her mind. The water of life, the spiritual life which Christ gives to every thirsty soul, had begun to spring up in her heart. The Spirit of the Lord was working with her.”—Ibid., p. 190.

“For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat” (John 4:8). Out of necessity the disciples went to buy some food from the Samaritans. They may have been gone for about an hour but returned without even one soul for the Kingdom. I do wonder what their conversation had been about. Had they represented Christ on their errand—or merely their culture as Jews, perpetuating ever more animosity in dealing with the Samaritans?

“And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?” (John 4:27).

This experience was another lesson for the disciples.

“As Jesus still sat at the well side, He looked over the fields of grain that were spread out before Him, their tender green touched by the golden sunlight. Pointing His disciples to the scene, He employed it as a symbol: ‘Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.’ And as He spoke, He looked on the groups that were coming to the well. It was four months to the time for harvesting the grain, but here was a harvest ready for the reaper.

“ ‘He that reapeth,’ He said, ‘receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.’ Here Christ points out the sacred service owed to God by those who receive the gospel. They are to be His living agencies. He requires their individual service. And whether we sow or reap, we are working for God. One scatters the seed; another gathers in the harvest; and both the sower and the reaper receive wages. They rejoice together in the reward of their labor.”—Ibid., pp. 191, 192.

“The woman had been filled with joy as she listened to Christ’s words. The wonderful revelation was almost overpowering. Leaving her waterpot, she returned to the city, to carry the message to others. Jesus knew why she had gone. Leaving her waterpot spoke unmistakably as to the effect of His words. It was the earnest desire of her soul to obtain the living water; and she forgot her errand to the well, she forgot the Saviour’s thirst, which she had purposed to supply. With heart overflowing with gladness, she hastened on her way, to impart to others the precious light she had received.

“ ‘Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did,’ she said to the men of the city. ‘Is not this the Christ?’ Her words touched their hearts. There was a new expression on her face, a change in her whole appearance. They were interested to see Jesus. ‘Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him.’”—Ibid., p. 191.

“Our Redeemer thirsts for recognition. He hungers for the sympathy and love of those whom He has purchased with His own blood. He longs with inexpressible desire that they should come to Him and have life. As the mother watches for the smile of recognition from her little child, which tells of the dawning of intelligence, so does Christ watch for the expression of grateful love, which shows that spiritual life is begun in the soul.”—Ibid.

“The Pharisees despised the simplicity of Jesus. They ignored His miracles, and demanded a sign that He was the Son of God. But the Samaritans asked no sign, and Jesus performed no miracles among them, save in revealing the secrets of her life to the woman at the well. Yet many received Him. In their new joy they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.’ ”—Ibid., pp. 192, 193.

Dear friend, right now you may be going through some of life’s challenges that may be negatively impacting your life. You may be feeling alone, lost or behind in life and thinking that no one cares. “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head” (Psalm 21:6,7). I believe the Samaritan woman felt exactly the same way that day.

Come to Jesus. “He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer” (Psalm 102:17). If the despised woman of Samaria could leave the presence of Christ as a changed person, you can, too. You can be that spark the Lord needs in your town with the help of the Holy Spirit. The harvest is ready—are you?