6 April 2013 by Stewart Chew-
The Song
The Samaritan Woman
(Song & lyrics, Stewart Chew 1991)
UNDER THE HOT SUN BESIDES JACOB’S WELL
JESUS ASKED THE WOMAN FOR A DRINK
SIR I LIKE TO, BUT I CAN’T DO THAT
I’M A SAMARITAN YOU KNOW
IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHO YOU’RE TALKING TO
YOU TOO WILL ASK ME FOR A DRINK
OF THIS SPECIAL LIFE GIVING WATER
IT FLOWS OUT FROM MY HEART
LORD AS WE SEEK YOU.
YOUR LOVE SURROUNDS US ALL
YOUR SPIRIT QUENCHES ALL OUR EVERY NEED
WE FEEL YOUR LOVE BUBBLES IN OUR SOUL
LIKE THE SAMARITAN WOMAN WE THANK YOU
LET US ALL YOUR PEOPLE THE GOOD NEWS TELL
WHOEVER BELIEVES IN CHRIST THE KING
STREAMS OF LIFE GIVING WATER
WILL GUSH OUT FROM HIS HEART
The Setting
The sun was blazing above when Jesus walked alone to drink at Jacobs well. His disciples had gone to the nearby villages to get some food. When Jesus got there, He found a Samaritan woman drawing water from the well. When she noticed Jesus approaching, she covered her face with her scarf and turned to walk away. She stopped when Jesus called her and asked whether He could have a drink of water from her bucket. When Jesus asked again, she turned around to face Him but did not say anything. Assuming that Jesus had then recognised that she is Samaritan and thus wouldn’t want to bother her further, she started to move away again from the well, carrying her bucket.
The Encounter
When Jesus spoke again, the Samaritan woman hesitantly stopped. Never in the past had any Jew any concern about her or her people. There was something extraordinary about this Rabbi that made her stop. The Samaritan woman had then realised that this meeting with Jesus at the well was no ordinary encounter. As Jesus continued to speak to her, His warmth and the sincerity of His words attracted her. She wanted to know about the living waters that He spoke about that perpetually quenches one’s thirst. She truly believed in what Jesus told her and she wanted to receive His saving grace.
The Transformation
That day the Samaritan woman received salvation. She had just experienced the living waters that welled and overflowed inside of her. She was completely transformed! She could not contain the joy of being born again! Suddenly she realized that she wanted to share this joy with her folks. Dropping her bucket of water, she dashed home and quickly hurried back, ushering a small crowd of reluctant followers to come and meet this Jesus! That day, Jesus had given salvation and a new spirit of eternal life to the Samaritan woman and her community!
The Samaritan Woman and You
What happened to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well is totally unexpected! She must have heard about God’s saving grace many times before and although she is Samaritan, she has secretly wished and prayed for it to change her life. When she had least expected God to answer her prayers it happened. Where she had expected this personal experience to occur in the quietness of her home, it occurred a public place.
We can recall, many occasions in the past that we experienced disappointment with God when we feel that our Heavenly Father had not heard our prayers. We have known afterwards that when we have almost forgotten about what we had prayed for, then God answers! We may usually be in a completely unexpected place or time when God answered our prayers. Thus, its effect upon us, because of our unawares is even more astounding! Gods timing is perfect and it always comes when we are helpless by ourselves and needed His intervention. Notice when the disciples returned with the food, they were quite blasé about Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman. Similarly, when we encountered God and feel anointed in His holy presence, expect our divine experience not to be easily believedor shared by those very close to us who may be professed Christians.
The Samaritan woman has just given us all a telling testimony of her wonderful life-change when she accepted Christ. She had quickly and spontaneously responded by wanting to share this experience all with her people. That day, through her, a whole community of Samaritans was saved!Some of us have experienced God’s love and His spirit has completely changed the way we used to live. We too can learn how to share the salvation of God from the spontaneityof the Samaritan woman after being born again. Let us imitate her example. She has brought a crowd of her loved ones to receive Jesus and be saved. We have already received the salvation of God buthave we shared in this miracle? Are we vigilant of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18) and doing our part to tell the good news to the whole wide world?
Note: Stewart Chew is a retired senior lecturer in School of Medical Sciences, Curtin University in Perth, Australia
Dear Viewers in Christ, if you find this article edifying to you, please share with your friends or loved ones by using the social media plugs (Share, Email to this article). The Lord will surely bless you as you bless others. May the Lord’s peace and love be with you. Amen.
References for pictures:
http://themasterstable.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/woman_at_the_well.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTygYFPqSSI/AAAAAAAAAM8/HiETmbu9dTc/s1600/At+the+well.jpg
http://www.franciscanaction.org/Upload_Module/upload/samaritan-woman.jpg
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