“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. –John 4:19, NIV
I can picture God gazing at her eyes, revealing her life in front of her. She was a Samaritan, the least she could expect was someone –much less a Jew- that would lead her on such a conversation! All she could think of were taunts, curses, insults in the name of the Lord. All she could think of were all the times she was treated as mere human capital. But not this: a man who knew more about her than what she knew herself. She could hint it, she could smell it: something was utterly different about Him.
The well of Sychar was the beginning of a beautiful exchange between Jesus and the woman. The breach that separated bitter Jews and Samaritans for centuries was starting to meld towards reconciliation. First, He asked for water. Later, He told her that His water was better, alive and kicking. Then, He asked for her husband to come join her. After that, He revealed to her that she had five husbands, and the sixth guy she was living with wasn’t even married to her-period! She knew something was rather charming, rather decent…rather Heavenly about that man.
The Man of Sorrows continued, sharing details about the new place of worship for both Jews and Samaritans and everyone else. Her eyes must have gazed from both admiration and skepticism: “Who is this man? Who is He?” Her brain couldn’t take more information, her body couldn’t hold the heat (but she was with the Master on high noon!), her ears were itching for an answer. Until finally, she dared to ask.
“I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” She finally got that thing out of her chest!
“I, the one speaking to you—I am he,” Jesus declared.
For the first time, she learned that Someone actually loved her for what she was. And for the first time, she learned that she was finally right.