The passage in John 4:4-14 is full of wonderful insights into the heart of Christ for lost souls (See also Matthew 18:10,11; Luke 19:9,10). Jesus not only looked on the multitudes with compassion (Matthew 9:36, 15:32), but He also looked at individuals with compassion and mercy (Mark 1:40- 42). You cannot read this section of Scripture and without sensing the invisible Hand of Providence orchestrating this entire event. Jesus “needed to go through Samaria” because there would be a woman at a well who had been blinded by her religious upbringing (John 4:20a) and by efforts to find happiness in a relationship with various men (John 4:16-18). Scripture warns about the vanity of seeking to find fulfillment in the empty things of this world instead of in a relationship with The Living God (Jeremiah 2:13).

It is not a coincidence that the entire scenario is played out by a famous well (John 4:12). The Prophet Isaiah said, “…with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3) The Hebrew word for “salvation” there is “yeshua”, which in the New Testament would be translated “Joshua” or “Jesus”. The gospel is that Jesus Christ is The Well of salvation for mankind. “There is no other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) It is through Christ that God dispenses all the grace that is needed to save us from the debt of sin (Hebrews 2:9), rescue us from the dominion of sin (Titus 2:11-15), and ultimately deliver us from the wrath of God that we deserve (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10). Grace means free, but grace does not mean cheap or without a cost. God has bought us with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20), the invaluable price of the blood of His son on the cross (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Even before the cross, Jesus gets a bit personal with this woman about her lifestyle (John 4:16 -18), and that is because a person cannot truly turn to Christ for forgiveness apart from acknowledging their sinful condition (Psalm 32:1-5). This woman forgot what she came to the well for after she met Christ and started telling others about Him (John 4:28-30). No classes on evangelism! No tracts! This woman entered into a real relationship with Jesus that I believe sowed the seeds of revival in Samaria that we read about in Acts 8:5-17.

May you also drink deeply and richly from this Well of salvation!