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The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet…” Jesus said
to her, “Woman believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain
nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father… But the hour is coming, and
now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in
truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who
worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:19-24).
The well outside the village becomes the center of community life. Women,
both young and not so young, gather around the well to do laundry, draw
water, and also hear about the latest talk-of-the-town or “chismiss”. Water
is a basic commodity for human existence. Usually, people come to the well
very early morning when the sun is not yet hot in order to draw water for
the day’s requirement.
But there was this woman who comes to draw water everyday. She comes
when there are no people at Jacob's well. Why does this woman draw water
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at an unholy hour, at high noon? But that particular day, there was a man
at Jacob's well. And so, there was this encounter at high noon between
Jesus and this unnamed woman. This encounter at high noon tells us
much about this woman as well as how Jesus deals with a woman like her.
First of all, we learn that this woman has a messy marital life. At one point
in the conversation (vv 16-18), Jesus told her: “Go, call your husband, and
come back.” She answered: “Sir, I have no husband.” But Jesus, who
knows much about her messy marital life, said: “You are right in saying ‘I
have no husband, for you have had five husbands, and the one you have
now is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
You see, what the woman was trying to hide was unmasked during the
encounter at high noon. Mas maliwanag sa tanghaling tapat! This was the
reason why she has to come and draw water at high noon.
Despite her messy marital life, Jesus related with the woman in a nice way.
Jesus talks with her in a non-judgmental way. As you read the story again
when you go home this noon, you will find that the Samaritan woman “is
never judged as a sinner” by Jesus. Instead, “she is portrayed as a model of
growing faith.” The story tells us that “the woman’s faith grow as she comes
to entertain the possibility that Jesus might be the Messiah (4: 29).”
Secondly, the story about this encounter at high noon tells us of the
cultural enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans. Jesus instantly
bridges this cultural enmity. Take note that Jesus was there at the well first
before the woman arrived. Jesus must have been tired and thirsty after a
long journey especially because of the summer sun. As soon as the woman
came, Jesus said: “Give a drink.”
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That request for refreshing water to drink at high noon was Jesus’ strategy
of bridging the cultural gap between the Jews and the Samaritans. Jesus’
request for water to drink was a demonstration of a non-judgmental love
that reduces the existing tension between a Jew and a Samaritan woman.
In fact the scriptures testify that this kind of love does far more than reduce
tension - it in fact gives life - it gives hope - it gives assurance - to all who
receive it.
You too can have a significant, transformative encounter with the Christ at
the high noon of your life, just as you can encounter the Lord in the
morning of your life, Just as you can encounter the Lord in the twilight of
your life. Like the Samaritan woman, afflicted by her messy marital life, and
yet, she was one to whom the good news has come in an unexpected place
at unexpected time. Indeed, she encountered the Lord as high noon of her
life.