My Life, a living well

In the days when Jesus walked the earth, and in the context of this Scripture, it was common for wells to be found where water could be drawn from in order to refresh and replenish those who needed to be. These wells had to be dug deep to access water that was underground, and these wells were dug in areas where there was not much, or in some instances no, surface water to access and use. And the water had to be found and drawn out in order for it to be considered useful. Now in those days, they did not have the modern apparatuses and mechanisms to locate water underground and draw it out. it was a very manual process that involved human interaction and labor.

In this Scripture Jesus came to what was called “Jacob’s Well,” and it sat on a lot of land that Jacob, the father of the 12 sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel, had given to his son, Joseph (John 4:5,6). This well was located in a city (Sychar) of Samaria, and Samaria was considered off limits for Jews at that time. (It is important to note that Samaritans were of Jewish heritage, also.) There was not much interaction between Samaritans and the Jews from surrounding areas (John 4:9). The Samaritans had intermarried with foreigners and had become idol worshippers who did not keep the full teachings of the Jewish law and the prophets (2Kings 17:26-28). So, when the woman encountered Jesus at the well, she was surprised that He interacted with her because of this reason. But the lesson that Jesus shares with us is two-fold: (1) Our lives should run deep and be filled with life-giving water – the Word of God and (2) We must be ready, and prepared (which happens during the digging or “trials” of life) for others (the whomsoevers) to draw, at any given moment, this water from the well of our lives.

Jesus modeled what a break from cultural norms and ethnic separation should look like. He knew who this woman was and her nationality, but he was more interested in her receiving everlasting life than in keeping with cultural barriers that had been put in place due to her nation’s past sins (John 4:6-26). Jesus became the apostles’ example (Acts 8:25) and our example in how to let the love and purpose of God redeem what is lost.

So when we think about wells that are dug deep in order for the life-giving source of water to be drawn out, we should see our lives as wells that run deep and hold life-giving water – the Word. We should be ready at a moment’s notice to give to others that which sustains life and be willing to allow others to draw from our well that has also been filled. And this is not a burden but a responsibility we have as ambassadors of Christ. Our wells are dug deep during the trials of life, and we are given the Word, Christ Himself (John 1:1-5, 14), to help sustain our lives and others. We must consistently, daily, replenish our wells with what sustains it. Are we really willing to allow others to draw from our wells?

Scripture References: John 4:10; John 4:5,6; 2Kings 17:26-28; John 4:6-26; Acts 8:25; John 4:14b