Third Sunday in LENT

Suggested Readings:

Exodus 17:1-7

Psalm 95

Romans 5:1-11

John 4:5-42

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A great deal of speculation surrounds the Samaritan woman whom Jesus encountered at Jacob’s well. Scholars and amateur pundits alike have painted her as immoral at best, a prostitute at worst. Interestingly, one person in the story does not label her. Yes, Jesus challenges her with the charge, “Go, call your husband, and come back” (4:16). However, he does not condemn her when she says she has no husband. Rather, he affirms the truthfulness of her answer and states his knowledge that she has had five husbands. Her first understanding is that he is a prophet (4:17).

This exchange leads to an important discussion about worship. Although Jews and Samaritans shared the Pentateuch as Scripture, Samaritans claimed Mt. Gerizim as the location of the cultic center, not Jerusalem. Jesus affirms that salvation is from the Jews but goes much further in declaring that worship is not about place, but a matter of the heart. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (4:24 italics added)

The woman responds with her faith conviction that the Messiah is coming. Jesus replies with the self-identification, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you” (4:26).

When the disciples return to Jesus the woman hurries off to the village to tell her neighbors that she has met a man “who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” (4:29). The villagers run in mass to see Jesus, and many believe in him, not only because of the woman’s testimony, but because of Jesus’ teachings.

It is difficult in a few short paragraphs to mine the depths of this passage. There are the literal misunderstandings of both the woman and the disciples. When Jesus offers living water, the woman misunderstands and asks for this water so she will not need to come to the well each day. When the disciples return from the city having purchased food, they completely miss Jesus’ point when he tells them he has food they know nothing about. In both cases, Jesus has the opportunity to explain the meaning of living water which satisfies spiritual thirst, and food which satisfies spiritual hunger. There is a movement in the narrative from the literal to the spiritual which is the crux of the story. Jesus pulls the literal and spiritual together when he says, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The woman transitions from a literal encounter with Jesus to spiritual awakening, to witness. Her testimony leads people to Jesus. Jesus’ two-day visit to the village allows many others to come to faith. The woman’s testimony leads the people of Sychar to a life-changing encounter with the Messiah.

Lent reminds us of our personal faith journey. Our journey with Christ is an evolving experience of growing into the fullness of Christ. Lent’s reflection, repentance, and renewal is a transitional and transformational journey. When we first come to faith it is exciting and exhilarating. As we grow up into Christ, like the woman at the well we grow in a deeper knowledge of who Jesus is. Jesus is the giver of living water and source of spiritual food. As we transition from stage to stage in this journey we are transformed more fully into the image of Christ.