Hello everyone! I’m super excited and looking forward to us connecting with each other.
We’re all kept busy by other things in our lives and making time to spend studying the Word and connecting with a community face-to-face can seem tricky at times. But by being a part of this online small group, connecting and exploring the Bible, is more convenient and can make this area of your life easier!
The aim is to post every month - that way we get the chance to really mediate on a particular portion of the bible and challenge our thoughts on what we’re reading. Plus, find ways we can apply it to today’s world while using it to encourage our own growth.
You can use whatever translation of the bible you’re most comfortable be.
I’m excited to get started. Let’s buckle up!
6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “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.
Since re-reading these verses I believe... it has become more profound and obvious to me that Jesus can show up in your life if when you least expect it. Even when you think you are unreachable unworthy and perhaps no longer on his radar or on his mind. This has provoked two main thoughts for me 1 being, am I prepared - have I done all that I can do, to be ready for when he does show up, as a follower of Christ? The other being, that I should understand that I don’t have to be perfect because he will meet me where I am.
I love how the human traits of Jesus are mentioned, as a reminder that in his human form He too grew tired and weary which is something we can all really relate to. But He used wisdom to know to take time out to rest and replenish Himself (v.6 & Mark 6:31-32). What is it that we are weary from? Family issues? Work problems? Church issues? ... Whatever the case may be. Are you doing what you should in order to take a step back and take time out so you can refocus and reflect on yourself and the situation? In order for you to be able to deal with it from a better standpoint.
I noticed that the time in which the Samaritan woman goes to the well is mentioned, perhaps to highlight that the time she is there where is relevant because in those times the women would travel together in groups yet here she is by herself at a time of the day that is not most sensible for travelling to draw water.
Jesus said to her “will you give me a drink”. There was the provision of water inside the well and she had the equipment needed to draw the water from the well. Therefore, letting me know that Jesus asks from us what He knows we can give. The popular scripture of He will only give you what you can carry (1 Corinthians 10:13) comes to mind because He knows what we are capable of doing and how much we are capable of taking on.
“You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” Unlike people today Jesus is unconcerned about your nationality, colour, size, height, profession or what your status is - because none of these or anything else can stop him from getting to you and loving you.
It’s a part of human nature to build opinions and form judgements about all kinds of things. But it’s when our judgements and opinions are negative and/or unfounded and cause us to not treat people fairly and with kindness, then that is no longer just a natural occurrence but behaviours and attitudes we choose to hold on to. However, we can control and change these.
v.10 He is wanting to make an exchange with us! Even in Isaiah 61:3 we are told of exchanges such of beauty for Ashes. And what a trade-off it is! The little I can offer for unconditional love, inner peace, joy and eternal life!
v.15 His word tells us that all we have to do is believe, live according to His word and we are to ask for our hearts desire. Pride has no place in this equation. Like the woman at the well we are to ask for what it is we need.
My main take-aways from these verses (this time around), is to know that whatever I am dealing with (good or bad) and no matter how alone I may feel, I can speak up and ask the Lord for what I desire as He is always right there with me. Also to recognise that I am able to improve my thoughts and responses in relation to particular people/situations, so I’m going to make a conscious effort over the next couple of weeks to pay attention to how I operate in these areas.
For me, over these next few weeks I am going to be paying more attention to my “normal” reactions and thoughts in this area.
I will also make more of an effort to exercise more compassion and understanding and not prejudge a person or a situation as this behaviour can potentially isolate someone. Bearing in mind the effects of keeping someone on the outside of a circle can have.
Please feel free to share your favourite verse from this chapter and what you’ve taken from it
Add it to the comments below.
What I got from this passage of scripture is how Jesus approached the Samaritan women. We are God’s Kingdom workers and one of our given tasks is to tell others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Yeshua). I notice that he finds common ground for discussion, ‘Will you give me a drink?’. Jesus shows us his human side of being thirsty and straight away the women can relate as they are by the well and he needs water. Jesus shows us an example of how to love people, he was not prejudice in anyway and did not come across as showing himself as being better than she was, he just engaged with her. Besides, Jesus is love himself so wha…
God's plan is perfect. You see approximately 500 years prior to this moment God spoke to Jacob and bid him dig a well, hence Jacob's well. God, knowing there was going to be a woman that needed something more than she was getting, provided an opportunity for a meeting of two unlikely people, at an unlikely time of day in an unlikely setting. The thing about this passage is that this set of circumstances was no mistake. Even if she didn't know she would be delivered that day, God did. All she had to do was to go to the 'well'. Not just any well, Jacob's well. Notice also, she was given no name just the woman at t…
No matter how alone I may feel, I can speak up and ask the Lord for what I desire as He is always right there with me.