Divine Appointment

In the Bible, in the Gospel of John, there is the story of Jesus and His meeting with a certain woman at Jacob?s well, which was in the country of Samaria. It is a very special story, as it tells us many things about the life of the Lord Jesus Christ and His love and care for people, no matter who they are or where they are or what they have done with their life. These things were recorded in the Bible for us that we could know and experience the love of God and to find real life and to have it abundantly.

The Bible tells us that Jesus and His disciples were going from Judea to Galilee. Normally they would have gone around the country of Samaria, as the Jewish people hated the Samaritans and would do anything that they could to keep from going through Samaria. Jesus was not bound by such restrictions, and, as the Bible says, ?had a need to go through Samaria.? At around noon as He rested from His travels by Jacob?s well, which was outside the city of Sychar, while His disciples went to see about getting some food, a woman from the city came to get water from the well. She came by herself and at an unusual time to get water, because most of the women would come in the morning or evening to get water. Jesus asked her to draw some water for Him to have a drink, and she was surprised that He, a Jew, would even speak to her, and she asked Him why He would ask her for a drink of water when the Jews would have no dealings with them. In their conversation it was revealed that she had been married five times and that the man she was living with was not her husband. Her life had probably been a mess ? broken marriages, disappointments, shunned or mocked and put down by others. Probably an outcast of society, no friends, and that is probably why she came to the well alone, to avoid people who knew her reputation and the way they put her down. How or why she had gotten herself into this mess is not known, but now ? probably middle-aged ? her life was seemingly without hope, no expectation for tomorrow or the rest of her days to be any better. But then she met the Master, and He did not bring harsh criticism against her, although He did remind her of her sins. Instead, He brought to her the offer of living water, water that is far greater than the water from Jacob?s well, water that quenches the thirst of a thirsty soul. The Bible says in John 6:35, ?I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.? This woman found that Living Water and left her water pot there by the well and ran to tell others about it.

I believe that the reason that Jesus needed to go through Samaria was because He had a divine appointment to meet this woman and to bring life and hope to her and to lift her out of where she was and help her find the abundant life that Jesus came so that we could have it. Today there are a lot of people who are like this woman, whose lives are not what they thought they would be, whether they are rich or poor, old or young, all nationalities. And just as He said to this woman, ?come to me and drink of this water that I shall give him and it shall become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life,? His offer is still open. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. In the last book of the Bible, Revolution 22:17, the Bible says, ?And the Spirit and the bride say, ?Come!? And let him who hears say, ?Come!? And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.? My prayer is that no one will miss this blessing that you can have through the Lord Jesus Christ! Thank you.