Almost hidden in the engaging story of the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus at Jacob’s Well is a simple, yet profound, observation which sums up quite nicely the entire episode. In four words, “leaving her water jar,” John puts an explanation point on his narrative.
During the course of their conversation, the woman’s opinion of Jesus went through a transformation. At first, Jesus was to her simply a Jewish man. However, in short time, she came to recognize Jesus as “a prophet,” “the Messiah” and “the Savior of the world.”
Minute-by-minute, the water which she had come to draw seemed less and less important. “Leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?’” Many of the people in her village believed in Jesus because of her testimony. They too came to Jesus, “the Savior of the world.”
She left her water jar, because she had found “living water” and “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” She found new, abundant and eternal life. She found Jesus and Jesus found her.
She left her water jar and the spring welling up within her overflowed to her neighbors and friends.
A water jar serves a purpose. A cistern has its place. William Blake observed, “The cistern contains: The fountain overflows.” This woman’s newfound faith and love were overflowing.
Come to Jesus and living water — allow him to flow through you into a dry and thirsty land.
Leave your water jar. You’ll never miss it!
Ken Haskins is pastor of First Christian Church in Carson City.