Morning Devotional
April 7, 2005
"The Woman at the Well" (Part 1) 
    by Don Emmitte

Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, "Jesus is baptizing and making more disciples than John" (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them--his disciples did). So he left Judea to return to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way. (John 4:1-4 NLT).

 

For the next few days the focus of these devotionals will be the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. This is a story of grace. Today, as we begin this series, I want you to notice something that is critical to the understanding of this story. The Scripture says Jesus “had to go through Samaria”.

 

We could certainly read this statement from a strictly geographical basis and, certainly, the nearest way from Judea to Galilee would have been through the intermediate province of Samaria. If you answer this on a Geography quiz as the quickest route you would be correct. However, to fully understand the life and ministry of Jesus one cannot read of His actions in a merely physical sense. Jesus had a definite purpose in His ministry. Everything He did was part of an overall plan of bringing people into the presence and glory of God.

 

When we look at the phrase that Jesus “had to go through Samaria” from that perspective, we can learn that Jesus had a divine appointment to meet. There was going to be someone who Jesus would meet in Samaria whose life would be changed forever. He understood this in advance and so He had to go through Samaria!

 

You may be reading this devotional because someone asked you to. You may have wanted to read it. It may simply be a physical and mental activity in your day; one that you are doing so that you can say you had a “quiet time” for the day. It may even be that you have been searching for some glimmer of hope in what seems to be a hopeless situation. Your desperation has brought you to search for something. I thing grace is the answer to our needs, whether small or large. So, as we look into this passage of Scripture over the next few days, ask God to make it a time of divine appointment in your life. Read this series with the intent of hearing from God.

 

My sincere belief is that when you approach these reading in this way, it will make a difference in your life. You will be able to find some of the answers to your dilemmas. You will find hope in your life. Grace will break into your life with such power and presence that you will have strength to face each challenge before you.

 

For now pray this prayer: Lord, I don’t understand why things are happening as they are, but I trust in your grace to keep me. I ask for the indwelling presence of your Holy Spirit to give me the strength I need for today. Meet me here and now and wash your love over me!