Show Don't Tell: John 4:1-4

As Jesus wraps up his time in Judea, a palpable tension hangs in the air. News travels fast, and the Pharisees have caught wind that Jesus is drawing a crowd, gaining more followers and baptizing more people than even John the Baptist. Though it’s His disciples who perform the baptisms, the growing numbers stir jealousy and scrutiny among religious leaders. They are watching, calculating, whispering among themselves, and their gaze sharpens like a hawk circling its prey.

In a moment of strategic withdrawal, Jesus turns His back on the familiar paths of Judea and begins the journey north to Galilee. But there’s more to this departure than meets the eye. The scripture tells us he “had to go through Samaria.” This wasn’t merely a geographical necessity; it was a divine imperative. Picture the dusty roads under the hot sun, the chatter of travelers around Him. Most Jews would have chosen the longer route, skirting the land of the Samaritans, avoiding the complicated history that lay between them. But Jesus? He couldn’t ignore it.

As He approaches Jacob’s well, thirsting for water, He’s not merely seeking refreshment for Himself. No, He’s on a mission—a divine appointment awaits. The air is heavy with the scent of earth and sweat, and the heat radiates off the stones of the well. There, He meets a woman, weary and burdened. She carries her own thirst—not just for water, but for acceptance, for love, for belonging. In this sacred moment, Jesus doesn’t just pass through Samaria; He steps into the complexities of human need, ready to offer her living water that will quench her thirst forever. In this divine necessity, we see the heart of the Savior who crosses boundaries to bring hope and healing to those waiting at the well.