Loving God, we come to you today in spirit and truth, seeking the living water that only you provide.  Renew us by your Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            Today, on Mt. Gerizim, there is still a Samaritan synagogue, as well as the ruins of the Samaritan temple that once stood there.  Down below are the ruins of ancient Shechem, which was visited by Abraham and Sarah.  This is also the place that Jacob lived at one time, and next door, in the modern town of Nablus, Jacob’s well is still there – preserved underneath the Church of St. Photina the Samaritan Woman.

         You may or may not have wondered, over the years, what the big deal is between Jews and Samaritans.  As John explains in today’s gospel, “Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans” (Jn. 4:9).  Those who are interested in the entire history can read about it in 2 Kings 17:24-41.  However, today I will just say this:  From a Jewish perspective, Samaritans are people of mixed ancestry who worshiped false gods.  And, from a Samaritan perspective, their traditions and worship practices are more ancient and more authentic than those of the Jewish people.  Hence, the dividing line between them.

         Jesus, however, has a tendency to ignore this particular dividing line, among others.  He has no hesitation in asking the Samaritan woman for a drink or in engaging her in a serious theological discussion.  Both things were considered taboo at the time.  Most Jews would not have shared a drink with a Samaritan, and respectable Jewish men would not engage in public conversation with an unaccompanied woman.  However, as it turns out, this is no ordinary woman.

         She is articulate and insightful, and is eager to learn what this strange man at the well is really all about.  She believes that the Messiah is coming, and she wants to know Jesus’ opinion about where to worship.  We are told that she has had five husbands, but we are not told why.  There is no mention in the story of sin or repentance or forgiveness, and so it seems likely that, whatever happened, it wasn’t due to some sort of sinful lifestyle on her part.  Rather, the only thing we know for sure is that she has experienced a lot of heartache in her life.  She also offers a contrast to Nicodemus, who encountered Jesus in last week’s gospel.

         Nicodemus is male, has a name, is a respected religious leader, and comes to Jesus at night.  The Samaritan woman is female, is not named in the gospel, has not been respected, and comes to Jesus in the bright light of day.  However, it is the Samaritan woman who does exactly what we are called to do.

         She enters into a deep theological conversation with Jesus about living water, and worship and the Holy Spirit.  Over the course of this conversation, she gradually gains a deeper understanding of who Jesus is.  And then, she goes off to testify and to invite others to come and see Jesus.

         One of the features of her deep conversation with Jesus is that Jesus changes the questions that need to be asked.  She (and others) have been asking where God really wants them to worship.  Jesus, however, changes the focus to how to worship – “in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:23).  For our part, any conversation with Jesus will most likely happen through prayer and engaging with the Scriptures.  And, as we get to know Jesus better, it might change the questions that we are asking as well!

         The hope would also be that we, too, gradually gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus really is.  In today’s gospel, the woman initially sees a Jewish man who is asking her for something.  Then, as the conversation continues, she sees that Jesus is a prophet, and also the promised Messiah.  However, the deepest revelation comes when Jesus says, “I am he” (Jn. 4:26).  This is what we get in an English translation, but in Greek it is simply “I am” - the name of God that was revealed to Moses.  Of course, the other thing that the woman discovers is that Jesus knows her through and through.  And so, it is not just the knowledge of Jesus’ true identity, but how Jesus relates to her.  

For us, too, this is perhaps the most important knowledge of Jesus – not just who he is but how he relates to us.  For, Jesus also knows us through and through, loves us, and has redeemed us for eternal life.  This is the kind of knowledge that leads us into inviting others to come and see the one who knows them through and through as well.

It is interesting to note that the Samaritan woman doesn’t go and start preaching to people about Jesus.  Instead, she gives her own experience and asks a question – “He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” (Jn. 4:29).  It is this approach that leads other people to come and encounter Jesus for themselves.

You may have noticed earlier that the Samaritan woman was given a name later on in the Orthodox tradition.  She is known as St. Photina, which means enlightened or luminous.  May the Holy Spirit shine through us as well, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Epiphany 4 (NL 4)                            John 4:1-42

January 30, 2022

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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