A Call to Action

A Call to Action

²⁷ And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “what do you seek? Or, “Why are You talking with her?” ²⁸ The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men. ²⁹ “Come and see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” ³⁰ Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

The rag tag, always ready to stick their foot in their mouth disciples returned. They were surprised to see Jesus talking to a woman. For you see it was beneath the dignity of a rabbi, which Jesus was considered to be, to converse with a woman in public.

In Ancient Jewish literary work Aboth R. N. 2 (1d), advises, “Let no one talk with a woman in the street, no not with his own wife”. In the Mishnah the men are admonished, Engage not in to much conversation with women” Yet strangely out of respect for Jesus the disciples kept their mouths shut saying nothing to Jesus or to the woman.

I have found throughout the years of ministry that when one suddenly discovers the Messiah and accept Him into their heart, their first response is to tell others.

For our woman at the well, this realization suddenly comes upon her and she rushes off to the village to tell the others of the person she has met.

This wanting to tell others of what Jesus has done for them is the natural and appropriate response. All Christians upon accepting Christ as their Saviour should share in this response. Yet, I find it puzzling that those who have been a Christian for a long, long time look down their noses at those who have found the love of Christ and want to share their good news of the Gospel with others. Why is this. If the hope instilled upon us at the time of conviction that Christ is the Messiah caused us to respond this way upon first encountering a relationship with Him, why do older Christians, those who should have been drinking of this living water daily, seem to have forgotten their first love. The reality is, the joy and enthusiasm that was displayed by the woman at the well, should continue the rest of our lives, because we have this wonderful hope that should be springing from us as springs of living water to bless others, and show them of Christ’s great love, mercy and salvation that is available to all.

This woman was so happy and overjoyed that she was willing to leave her waterpots to proclaim the good news to the men and elders of the city in which she lived.

Because of the testimony of this woman the people of the village went to see for themselves what had brought such a change upon the life of the woman.

In our Christian experience as the woman at the well found out, Christ will reveal to us our many sins and shortcomings. Not because He is attempting to discourage us, but that His character might be brought out through us and that our character will be changed into His likeness. Yet, as it was evident to the towns people, the change should be seen the very moment we accept Christ as our Messiah.

The power of her witness! The new-found radiance from her face! The changed attitude of this woman caused the village to come to the well that Jacob dug. They listened to the true Son of Jacob create within them the desire for something better. A conviction of personal need. As He called the woman to acknowledge Him as the Messiah, He did the same upon the hearts of all the towns people and finally, a call to action that they to by their changed lives, might witness to others of the great love and mercy of the true Son of Jacob who sat by the well of Jacob, not to give them stagnate earthly water, but the pure water of the that only comes from the throne of God.

I would dearly love to know the reaction of the disciples. What lessons did they learn and what we can learn from the true Son of Jacob, who offers “living water.”