Lenten Daily Devotional 2022
Wednesday, March 9
Day 8: Everyone
"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 4:14 (NIV)
In chapter 3 of John, we read “everyone who believes in Him . . . will have eternal life.” In chapter 4, we meet one of those “everyones.”
This is Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Let’s explore the cultural factors surrounding this interaction. First, rabbis didn’t speak to women. Women were seen as not having the value of men. Second, the Jews aggressively avoided the Samaritans. After the 10 tribes of Israel were deported by the Assyrians in 722 BC, they were replaced by other people, the Samaritans. They were despised. Third, this was a woman of low repute in this culture. She’s had five husbands and is living with a man who is not her husband. Fourth, she appears at the well by herself at noon. Higher status women come to the well in groups in the cool of the morning. She was being shunned by her own people.
She is an “everyone.” And Jesus immediately offers her “living water of eternal life.” A “fresh, bubbling spring within” is hers for the asking.
“Please, sir . . . give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again.”
Sometimes we can feel like we don’t deserve to be an “everyone.” We don’t know enough. We’re not faithful enough. We do bad things, even when we know better. Maybe we deserve compassion and kindness, but we don’t really deserve “living water.” Just say, “give me this water.” Jesus is offering it to you.
--Duane Hutton
This is Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Let’s explore the cultural factors surrounding this interaction. First, rabbis didn’t speak to women. Women were seen as not having the value of men. Second, the Jews aggressively avoided the Samaritans. After the 10 tribes of Israel were deported by the Assyrians in 722 BC, they were replaced by other people, the Samaritans. They were despised. Third, this was a woman of low repute in this culture. She’s had five husbands and is living with a man who is not her husband. Fourth, she appears at the well by herself at noon. Higher status women come to the well in groups in the cool of the morning. She was being shunned by her own people.
She is an “everyone.” And Jesus immediately offers her “living water of eternal life.” A “fresh, bubbling spring within” is hers for the asking.
“Please, sir . . . give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again.”
Sometimes we can feel like we don’t deserve to be an “everyone.” We don’t know enough. We’re not faithful enough. We do bad things, even when we know better. Maybe we deserve compassion and kindness, but we don’t really deserve “living water.” Just say, “give me this water.” Jesus is offering it to you.
--Duane Hutton
Prayer Focus: Jesus, help us to see others as you see them. Break our hearts for the things that break Yours. Lead us on how to tell others about the grace and mercy You gave to each of us.
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