March/April 2015
7
t
hat Jesus (a Jew) would even speak
to her (a woman and a Samaritan—
a
people whose worship of God
Jews did not recognize). Jesus con-
tinues their conversation without
addressing her surprise, as if to say,
"Oh, that is nothing. I am beyond
that." We see that this woman is
paying attention; she is knowledge-
able of the practices and expecta-
tions of the Jews.
She perceives that Jesus is a
prophet (v. 19), she knows of the
Messiah's coming and that He will
explain all things (v. 25). And then
this strange man says, "I who speak
to you am the Messiah." Well, in
the words of Thomas, "My Savior
and my God!" (Jn. 20:28).
What an encounter! If I were a
Samaritan woman and I got to meet
the Messiah, and he actually spoke
with me—a real conversation—I
would be on top of the world! The
Samaritan woman is understand-
ably moved. She goes back to her
town and says to the people, "Come
and see someone who told me
everything I have ever done! Could
this be the Messiah?" (4:28–29).
She does not run to tell only other
women about her experience; she
tells all the people in the city about
A woman humbles herself in front of Jesus, anointing his feet and
showing him hospitality the host neglected to give. Art by Stephen
Schildbach from the PW/Horizons Bible study, The Face Is Familiar.