God’s heart hurts and has a longing; hurting that his offspring look for solace in dry wells that don’t offer life; God longs for their hearts to come to his fountain of eternal love. He desires that we be tuned to that true love.
The Bridegroom Messiah walking our streets wants to fine-tune our hearts to that love. The Samaritan woman does not understand and objects: Jews and Samaritans are enemies, why should I give you water? And Jesus replies with an answer full of imagination and strength: “If you knew the gift of God.” Key phrase of the sacred story: God does not ask, he gives; he does not demand, he offers.
He promises to provide water that will become a spring within, overflowing with life. Jesus, the poet of Nazareth, uses beautiful metaphors like water and spring that resonate with everyone’s experience. Jesus tells her, “If only you knew the gift of God.”
Truth be told, we don’t know God’s immeasurable, effortless abundance that flows to all without distinction.
The Samaritan woman embodies this truth. God does not seek heroes; not just a larger water jar or a deeper well, but something greater: she has been hurt in the past and is now offered the living well. Jesus addresses her situation without condemning her past or requiring her to change before accepting His gift.
Why settle for an empty jar instead of flowing living waters?
Jesus offers endless grace, a fullness that overflows. fullness of life is ours to behold?