1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” ( For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) (John 4:1-9 – English Standard Version)
Jesus was wearied and was sitting beside the well. A woman passed by and Jesus asked for a drink. Why did Jesus ask for a drink? Maybe He was thirsty? To the woman, a Samaritan, it is abnormal for Jesus to ask her for a drink. If Jesus simply asked a general question, it would still seem unusual to the woman, because Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus does not care what the woman thinks. He genuinely cares about her and intends to open up a conversation by asking her for a drink. When you are weary, what do you usually do? I would watch TV and do nothing. Some people may choose to sleep, eat or play video games. You want to relax. You want your own personal space. The least thing that you probably want to happen is someone bothering you. You may become very self-centered when you are weary, tired, drained. Jesus, when he is weary, he takes time to care others. He does not care if he has time to relax. He takes every opportunity to enter into the heart of an individual and offers care. I believe this is one thing that we can/should learn from Jesus.
