The story, found in John 4, is familiar to Bible students.
Jesus stopped by a well in a Samaritan town, where He boldly approached a woman
to ask for a drink. Customarily, Jews avoided fraternizing with Samaritans. But
not Jesus.
Striking up a conversation, Jesus teaches the woman about
living water.
Jesus answered, “Everyone
who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will
never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of
water welling up to eternal life.”
(John 4:13-14, NIV)
Jesus then went on to tell the woman some
embarrassing secrets about her personal life. Immediately, she recognized that
He was someone special. Within moments, she raced off to tell everyone she knew
about Him.
Italian Baroque painter Guercino (1591-1666), showed this
interaction in his work titled Christ and
the Samaritan Woman.
Consider the kindness in Jesus’ gentle, but knowing,
expression. He is fully aware of the scandalous burden the woman carries in her
soul. But He takes interest in her condition. He explains spiritual truth to
her with consideration and honor.
Jesus is observant. He
pays attention.
He knows our actions … our words … our thoughts … and our
hearts. But, astonishingly, He takes interest in us anyway. And He is willing
to teach us and to send us, even though He is fully aware of the secrets we
have long tried to hide.
What a safety there is in being loved by Someone who already
knows everything about us!
Christ and the Samaritan Woman
by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri /
Guercino
1640
The Scripture memory tips series is ongoing, but the April A to Z Blogging Challenge has started, and Heart of a Ready Writer is participating again this year. Watch for the Bible memory series posts, which may be interspersed with the Pictures of Jesus series during the month of April.
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