John 4:27-30 (NIV): Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
The disciples returned with the food that they had brought from the town (cf. v8), only to find Jesus sitting by the well, and talking to a Samaritan woman. This went against every societal norm that they knew, but they knew Jesus well enough to understand that He was not simply passing the time of day with her. He had to have some reason for talking with her so intensely. So they said nothing, and just began to lay out the food that they had brought.
The woman, on the other hand, took this opportunity to run back to town and tell the people about who she had found. She left her water jar (the reason she had gone to the well in the first place) sitting by the well, her physical thirst subsumed by a new and deeper thirst to know this Messiah better, and to bring others to know Him, too.
Jesus had astounded her on several levels. He had shamelessly broken down the societal barriers between them with a word. He had spoken things that at first seemed so strange, but which at the same time had warmed her heart. He seemed to know every inner recess of her heart. And, on top of it all, He claimed straight out to be the long-awaited Messiah.
Her invitation to the people of her town was short and to the point: “Come.” Come and see a man who was able to tell me everything I ever did. Come see a man who now seems to be so much more than just a man. Come and see this man that I believe could actually be the Messiah!
The woman’s message was so compelling, her experience so genuine, and her passion so urgent, that the people left their homes, their businesses, their hobbies, whatever they were doing, to go and see this man. As the people began to move toward the town gate, toward the well, those in the crowd called to still others: “She says that the Messiah has come! He’s at the well!” And the numbers grew at every step. Was it true? They would go and see.
Lord, sometimes, in our long experience of You we forget how amazing You are, how compelling Your presence is, and all of the miracles that You have done in our hearts. We try to memorize scripts or use programs to tell people about You, when all we really need to do is to share with them, with all of the passion those miracles deserve, “Come and meet the One who has completely changed my life! Come see the One who found me in the dark and brought me into the light! Come meet the man who is God in the flesh, the Messiah, the One your heart is longing for!” Amen.