John 4 records the story of the ‘woman at the well”. She’s a Samaritan, but more than that we learn in the story that she has had five husbands and is living with a man who is not her husband. And here at the community well, coming later in the day so as not to meet up with the other women who would have come earlier, she meets up with Jesus.

Maybe you’ve read the story.

Jesus reveals to her things that she knows He could not have known unless He was from God. He sees her as she really is, not what appears on the outside. She is confused and not just a bit uncertain about “this man”. I’m sure her experience with men hasn’t been all that great. I am sure she has little reason to trust a man.

After all, without a husband, or a man to care for her, she would likely be left to earning money on the streets in an even less dignified way.

And Jesus cares for her. He talks to her. He listens to her. He sees her.

I have a good friend. Whenever we meet in person, when we have a meal or coffee together, I always leave feeling heard and seen. I always feel like I am the onlly person he cares about. I know differently. I know that he’s out and about daily meeting with people, listening to people, caring for people. And he makes everyone feel like this.

So much more The Son of God, sitting with a woman at a well in the first Century where women have such lilttle social value.

That meeting transforms her life. He doesn’t tell her to get married. He doesn’t chide her for multiple partners. He doesn’t insist that she clean up her act. He offers her Himself – Living Water – that she might never thirst again.

The Bible says that she returned to her village telling people about her encounter with Jesus AND “Many of the Samaritans who came out of that town believed in him through the woman’s testimony—“He told me everything I’ve ever done.” And when they arrived they begged him to stay with them. He did stay there two days and far more believed in him because of what he himself said.” – JB Philips

The story remerges in Acts 8 when Philip goes to Samaria and is well received – and many put their faith in Jesus… why? Could it be that the testimony of this woman and the number of people who believed made way for the ministry of Philip?

We never know what our story can do to the lives of those around us. We may be the seed planted that bears fruit later because of our retelling of what Jesus has done in our lives!