John 4: 1 – 26 is such a powerful representation of Christ and the Gospel. It represents how Jesus meets us where we are – thirsty, tired and in need of a Savior.
It tells the story of Jesus interacting with a woman at a well. It is a beautiful word picture of how revolutionary Jesus’ ministry is to so many people. Jesus is speaking to a woman. Society at that time did not see value in her but Jesus valued this woman. Teenagers and children don’t appear to bring something tangible to the table when looking at their value to the church. But, they are incredibly loved and valued by Jesus. He reinforces this when He tells His disciples, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18: 3). Jesus references children often in terms of faith and greatness in the kingdom.
This woman was a Samaritan. Samaritans were considered anything but good. There was a lot of disdain for Samaritans in the Jewish culture, so Jesus even speaking to this Samaritan (and woman) was something special! For the people that walk through the doors of our church, especially in youth ministry, we are called to love everyone regardless of who their parents are, where they’re from, what they look like or what mistakes they have made. Jesus’ last recorded words to His disciples in Acts are clear: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1: 8b). Jesus is clear, the Gospel is open to anyone and everyone.
The woman was visiting the well around noon which is the hottest part of the day. People do not typically visit the well when it is hot, they visit in the morning. This woman was visiting the well when no one else would be there because she didn’t want to be seen, but Christ sees her.
Jesus offers her “living water” (John 4: 10). It is through her interaction with Jesus that she accepts His offer of grace and she is changed, so much so that others see her differently back home and believe the things she tells them about Jesus. We cannot grow without changing. We cannot receive Living Water and not be transformed. Living water is the beginning of the story, not the end.
We love and accept our students into our youth ministry. We strive to be the Well on a hot day for teenagers moving toward a lifetime of discipleship – the meeting place with a Savior who intentionally seeks them out along their path. We are here to equip them to call others by learning to share how Jesus has changed them from the inside out.