Today’s Reading: John 4:5-12; Psalm 72

Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. — John 4:5-6

Let’s take a moment to consider the significance of this location by looking back at the life of Jacob, the one for whom this well was named. When Joseph received word that Jacob was nearing death, he went to visit his father, bringing along his two sons — Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob placed his hands on his two grandsons and declared they would have all of the privileges of his sons. When his inheritance was divided among his boys, Ephraim and Manasseh would be included, even though their mother was Egyptian and their other grandfather was a priest of a false god.

These children had been a blessing to Joseph at a rough time in his life. After being rejected by his brothers and sold as a slave, God had brought joy into Joseph’s life. After being falsely accused and imprisoned, Joseph was set free and placed in a position of great authority and privilege in Egypt.

During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.” — Genesis 41:50-52

And now here Joseph was, reunited with his father and introducing him to his sons. God had restored Joseph’s relationship with his family. His troubles were forgotten, and he was now enjoying the land that had once brought him so much grief. Jacob embraced his grandsons, placed his hands on their heads, and bestowed upon them this blessing:

“May the God before whom my grandfather Abraham
and my father, Isaac, walked—
the God who has been my shepherd
all my life, to this very day,
the Angel who has redeemed me from all harm—
may he bless these boys.
May they preserve my name
and the names of Abraham and Isaac.
And may their descendants multiply greatly
throughout the earth.” — Genesis 48:15-16

Jacob blessed Joseph and his sons with the richest land of the inheritance — part of which would eventually become Samaria. As Jesus was passing through this land generations later, he sat beside the well known as Jacob’s well. John tells us that Jesus was weary from the travel and his disciples had gone into the village to get him some food. But Jesus had plans to do so much more than rest.

Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”…

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” — John 4:7-12

And there you have it — the wounds of discrimination were laid bare and the woman of the well was defending the value of her people. The “elephant in the room” was exposed and the dividing line of racism was drawn. You are a Jew; I am a Samaritan. Why are you talking to me?

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN GENERATIONS OF PREJUDICE HAVE CREATED A BOUNDARY WE ARE EXPECTED NOT TO CROSS?

The answer to this question is clear — We do what Jesus did. We erase the lines and begin the process of racial reconciliation. We do not have to live out the arguments of those who have gone before us, but we can become an instrument of peace across neighborhoods and across our nation. We can sit at the well and begin a conversation.

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” — Galatians 5:14

He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their lives are precious to him. – Psalm 72:14