The sun hung like a blazing inferno in the sky. It’s heat burned my skin and my anger turned against its intensity. I always came alone to Jacob’s well at midday, when the heat was most miserable. Why? Because, for me, there was safety in that misery. Fewer wagging tongues prattling their judgment against me.
As I approached to dip my jar, a man lifted His face and spoke. I was shocked as I clearly saw He was a Jew. Jews and Samaritans NEVER spoke. From a child, I prayed never to even MEET a Jew!
I backed away a bit, “How can you ask me for a drink?”
He answered strangely and said that if I knew the gift of God, I would ask HIM and be given living water…and I would never thirst again. What?
He continued and somehow knew I had five previous husbands, but was not married to my current man. As He spoke, my heart burned within me. His eyes pierced through me. I trembled. Who is this man?
I mentioned that when the Messiah came, all things would be explained. He answered, “The One who speaks to you now, is He.”
My heart jumped in my chest. I stopped breathing. My understanding was suddenly illuminated!
This WAS the Messiah! I had encountered our Hope, our Deliverer!
My feet raced away from the well. With each step, the anger, the secrets and shame melted away in the heat of that day.
No longer afraid of disdaining judgment, I boldly told all of Sychar, “Come, see the man who told me all things I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
And I wondered, “Had this man been at the well before and, somehow, I had missed Him?”
~Vickie Richey
Christ Fellowship