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“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (Jn. 4:10 ESV) So said Jesus to a woman who was marginalized because of her race, and likely because of her life circumstances as well.
In making His way to ask this Samaritan woman for a drink at Jacob’s well when Jews in general would avoid passing Samaria altogether, we see how Jesus intentionally made Himself known to this woman. She had had five husbands and was not married to the one she is with at that time, Jesus revealed, telling her and us that Jesus knew her, “warts and all.” And yet here He was. We can tell that Jesus made His way to let this woman know that He knew what her heart truly thirsted for, and that His goal for the day was to let this lady know that He is her Savior and that He is all she needs. The woman left that scene, loved, forgiven, and free! She was so joyful that she told her whole village about it, and they came to know Jesus themselves.
It seems that, in the Bible, whenever women had a personal encounter with Jesus, it was one that was filled with grace, compassion, mercy, healing, and love. Women found new and unparalleled freedom because of Him. Read about the woman caught in adultery (Jn. 8:1-11), the sick woman with an issue with blood (Mk. 5:25-34), the woman who was freed from spiritual bondage (Lk. 8:1-3), and many more. Small wonder that when Jesus was on the cross, it was the women who stayed with Him until His death. And they were the first witnesses to His resurrection!
In the same way, Jesus knows our thirst. He knows our deepest longings. We need not deaden our hearts to our deepest yearnings or seek everywhere else to satisfy them. We just need to take these to Jesus, who is expectantly moving and waiting so that He can be all to us.
Other lovers might not stay true to their promises, or they might take their time before being in our lives, but the Lover of our Soul is here and is true. Why would we not trust Him when He is the One who has actually given His life for us, as other lovers might want to promise?
As Women’s Month draws to a close and a new month starts, fittingly culminating with Holy Week with Easter, may you find new freedom and everyday grace from the God who has already laid the groundwork so that we can be forgiven through the sacrifice of His Son, and invites you to a relationship with Him.
Michelle Joaquin is the editor-in-chief of Familywise Asia and is wife to Boris and mom to daughters Ysobel, 18, and Julia, 12.
