Last week, I taught about the Samaritan woman in John 4—one of my favorite passages. However, I’ve noticed some people question the typical interpretations. With less than 30 minutes to speak, I had to choose highlights carefully, mentioning some points only briefly and omitting others. Here are three points to reconsider.
1. The conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman is the longest one-on-one exchange in the gospels. Theologically, this matters: Jesus reveals more about himself here than almost anywhere else, crossing social and cultural boundaries. Speaking so openly with a marginalized Samaritan woman, he shows compassion and draws her in, making this a key New Testament passage. It’s rare for Jesus to clearly reveal his identity—he does so here, before the high priest at his trial, and with the blind man in John 9.
2. Many see this as a model for sharing faith. Jesus reveals spiritual truth gradually, leading to real change. Eric Alexander commented in his sermon on this passage that it’s not helpful to look at this passage as the way to do evangelism, but rather to have the heart of an evangelist. For example, asking someone to do something for you is a way to connect with them (as when Jesus asked her for water). Jesus is not strategizing on how to connect with her or control the conversation—she wasn’t a project. Instead, Jesus, with wisdom and love, fully engaged with her to help her see who he was and what he offered.
3. The woman is often labeled a moral outcast, but perhaps not for the reasons we assume. In first-century Judea, men controlled marriage and divorce; women had little agency. She’d been married five times, but we don’t know why—perhaps she was widowed, divorced, or abandoned, each with its own social stigma. Living with a man who wasn’t her husband would have made her even more vulnerable. Gail O’Day notes her marital history may reflect her vulnerable position in a male-dominated society, rather than personal failure. It is unclear if this is the case though it cannot be dismissed as a possibility. Regardless, she was seen as an outsider.
Jesus tells the Samaritan woman he is the Messiah and offers her the Holy Spirit—something that brings real life and joy, not just temporary support. She starts talking with the stranger, asks questions, and, after evidence of his supernatural insight, acknowledges who he is.
We may say we know Jesus, but often we don’t let him speak to us through his word and Spirit. Sometimes we seek other things to satisfy us, ignoring what he offers. This story’s power lies in how the outcast is ready to accept him, while insiders often are not. It challenges us to ask whether we really listen and respond—or let old assumptions keep us from the living water Jesus gives. In the end, this story invites everyone to recognize their thirst and accept what Jesus offers, just as she did.
