The Story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well

Jesus knew that people had heard about him, and he was worried they would be angry about what he was doing so he left Judea to go back to Galilee.

On the way back to Galilee Jesus had to go through an area called Samaria. After walking a long way he came to a village in Samaria where there was a special well. At lunchtime, Jesus was tired from the long walk and sat down near the well. He sent his friends to go and buy some food and had a bit of a rest.

Then a woman came along to get some water. She was from the village in Samaria, she was a Samaritan.

“Please, can you give me a drink?” Jesus said

The woman was surprised because normally people like Jesus did not like Samaritans or even talk to them

She said to Jesus, “I am a Samaritan woman, people like you don’t normally talk to me so why are you asking me for a drink?”

Jesus replied, “If you understood who I really am then 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. You need a rope and a bucket to get the water out. Where would you get this living water? And anyway, a special man called Jacob gave us this well, how would your living water be better than this water?”

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks water from this well will be thirsty again soon but those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. My living water becomes like a clear, gushing stream inside of them so that they can live forever”

Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah”

“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

“Go and get the man you are married to, your husband,” Jesus told her.

“I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.

Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— I know that you’ve had five husbands, but you aren’t married to the man you’re living with now so he’s not your husband.”

“Oh wow,” the woman said, “you must be someone special to know all about my life without being told!.  So, tell me, why do people like you go to Jerusalem to worship God, and Samaritans like me worship God at a special mountain?”

Jesus replied, “Listen, so it really won’t matter whether you worship God in Jerusalem or on a mountain, all that will matter is that you worship God truly and with your whole heart. God is looking for people who will worship him that way”

The woman said, “I know someone really special, the Messiah, is coming—he’s the one who is called Christ and when he comes, he will explain everything about God to us and help us to be friends with God”

Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah”

Then Jesus’ friends came back with food and were surprised to see him talking to a Samaritan woman.

The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who knew all about me. Come and see if you think he could be the Messiah!” and lots of people from the village came rushing to see Jesus.