1 00:00:01,030 --> 00:00:05,269 Speaker 1: But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, 2 00:00:05,330 --> 00:00:08,190 Speaker 1: the water I give them will become in them a 3 00:00:08,310 --> 00:00:15,230 Speaker 1: spring of water, welling up to eternal life. John 4.14 4 00:00:16,410 --> 00:00:20,210 Speaker 1: Dear Lord, we are thirsty and in need of refreshment today. 5 00:00:22,170 --> 00:00:26,220 Speaker 1: The world's troubles and the anxiety of everyday life can 6 00:00:26,260 --> 00:00:32,220 Speaker 1: take their toll, leaving us needy and parched. Would you 7 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:36,300 Speaker 1: refresh us with your Spirit? Would you fill us to 8 00:00:36,340 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: the brim with life, light, and love? We want to 9 00:00:42,979 --> 00:00:46,710 Speaker 1: be so filled with your love and truth that others 10 00:00:46,790 --> 00:00:52,870 Speaker 1: are refreshed by our presence. May our homes, workplaces, and 11 00:00:53,010 --> 00:00:57,170 Speaker 1: families be filled with your Spirit because we are near. 12 00:00:59,090 --> 00:01:00,490 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name we pray. 13 00:01:02,270 --> 00:01:02,530 Speaker 2: Amen. 14 00:01:04,810 --> 00:01:07,930 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to 15 00:01:07,950 --> 00:01:12,780 Speaker 1: The Jesus Podcast, cinematic gospel stories that cut straight to 16 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: the heart and transform our lives. This episode is for 17 00:01:17,580 --> 00:01:20,860 Speaker 1: anyone who has felt the weight of shame or like 18 00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:26,069 Speaker 1: an outcast. Listen and be swept away in the emotional 19 00:01:26,130 --> 00:01:30,580 Speaker 1: story of the woman at the well. Follow this podcast 20 00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:34,420 Speaker 1: on whatever platform you're listening to. Doing so will keep 21 00:01:34,459 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: you updated, but also help us get discovered by more people. 22 00:01:39,330 --> 00:01:42,510 Speaker 1: We want the story of Jesus to be known throughout 23 00:01:42,550 --> 00:01:48,950 Speaker 1: the world. Thanks for making that possible. Zamyra wiped the 24 00:01:48,990 --> 00:01:52,470 Speaker 1: sweat off her brow, cursing under her breath as she 25 00:01:52,550 --> 00:01:54,830 Speaker 1: dragged her feet up the winding path to the well. 26 00:01:56,930 --> 00:02:00,830 Speaker 1: The rod holding two empty jars dug into her neck 27 00:02:00,970 --> 00:02:04,630 Speaker 1: as she submitted the hill. The sun's harsh rays were 28 00:02:04,690 --> 00:02:10,330 Speaker 1: relentless and would only worsen as the day passed. She 29 00:02:10,389 --> 00:02:15,809 Speaker 1: finally reached the well and leaned against its edge. She 30 00:02:15,870 --> 00:02:18,650 Speaker 1: ran her hand through some of the water and pressed 31 00:02:18,690 --> 00:02:24,150 Speaker 1: it against her neck. She sighed in relief and closed 32 00:02:24,169 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: her eyes. The afternoons weren't kind to Samira. Very few 33 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:35,959 Speaker 1: parts of life were. A few women from town were 34 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 1: leaving with full jars on their heads. They glanced at 35 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:45,500 Speaker 1: Samira and scowled as they passed. Their eyes were like daggers, 36 00:02:46,340 --> 00:02:49,190 Speaker 1: cutting through Samira's already fragile self-esteem. 37 00:02:49,950 --> 00:02:52,590 Speaker 2: Haven't seen you in a while, Samira. Whose bed are 38 00:02:52,610 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 2: you sharing lately? Does he keep you too busy in 39 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:57,820 Speaker 2: the morning to join the rest of us? 40 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:03,430 Speaker 1: Zamyra said nothing. She kept her head down and dabbed 41 00:03:03,470 --> 00:03:08,470 Speaker 1: her neck with a wet cloth. These types of interactions 42 00:03:08,530 --> 00:03:14,340 Speaker 1: were precisely why she avoided the well in the mornings. Usually, 43 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,740 Speaker 1: most of the women were gone by this time of day. 44 00:03:19,660 --> 00:03:22,300 Speaker 1: The women rolled their eyes and departed down the path. 45 00:03:23,889 --> 00:03:27,930 Speaker 1: So Myra watched them leave. She thought about cursing them. 46 00:03:29,410 --> 00:03:34,500 Speaker 1: She thought about crying. Instead, she clenched her jaw and 47 00:03:34,740 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: buried it all, feeling nothing was better than wallowing in 48 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:46,950 Speaker 1: more shame. The heat mocked her. Her back was drenched 49 00:03:47,030 --> 00:03:50,750 Speaker 1: in sweat, and her legs ached from marching all day 50 00:03:50,810 --> 00:03:54,950 Speaker 1: in the sun. Most women went to the well early 51 00:03:54,990 --> 00:03:58,390 Speaker 1: in the morning to avoid the heat, but not Zamyra. 52 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: She marched at noon, avoiding the judgment glares, punishing. 53 00:04:03,820 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 3: Her for her sins. It's what you deserve, she whispered 54 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:09,060 Speaker 3: to herself. 55 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: Zamyra's self-worth had eroded with each passing day. The sins 56 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:21,300 Speaker 1: she had committed, and the sins committed against her, had 57 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 1: sanded down her dignity She drew some water from the 58 00:04:26,100 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: well into one of the jars, wishing the sun would 59 00:04:29,779 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: melt her like wax, so she would never have to 60 00:04:32,740 --> 00:04:34,110 Speaker 1: return to the well again. 61 00:04:36,510 --> 00:04:38,230 Speaker 3: Sin is like an infection. 62 00:04:38,710 --> 00:04:41,089 Speaker 4: If it's not dealt with, it will only continue to 63 00:04:41,190 --> 00:04:45,430 Speaker 4: grow and consume. Once we let sin in, its natural 64 00:04:45,510 --> 00:04:49,150 Speaker 4: tendency is to spread. What starts as a small compromise 65 00:04:49,290 --> 00:04:53,010 Speaker 4: leads to another large one. But the Apostle John gives 66 00:04:53,089 --> 00:04:55,940 Speaker 4: us hope in 1 John 1.8. If we claim to 67 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,260 Speaker 4: be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is 68 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 4: not in us. If we confess our sins, He is 69 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,700 Speaker 4: faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins 70 00:05:02,930 --> 00:05:06,310 Speaker 4: and purify us from all unrighteousness. The first step to 71 00:05:06,350 --> 00:05:08,950 Speaker 4: eradicating sin in our lives is confessing it to the 72 00:05:09,150 --> 00:05:12,030 Speaker 4: one who can heal us of it. This is the 73 00:05:12,070 --> 00:05:16,820 Speaker 4: Jesus Podcast. Gospel stories told with cinematic quality and careful reflection. 74 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,460 Speaker 4: I'm Zach, your host from Pray.com, and I'm excited to 75 00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 4: be back with another story of how Jesus meets, cares for, 76 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,050 Speaker 4: and loves the outcast. What we will find in today's 77 00:05:27,110 --> 00:05:28,930 Speaker 4: story is probably relatable to. 78 00:05:28,910 --> 00:05:29,430 Speaker 3: Most of us. 79 00:05:29,910 --> 00:05:32,909 Speaker 4: The pains of loneliness and the struggle to feel connected. 80 00:05:33,510 --> 00:05:36,230 Speaker 4: We'll be introduced to Zamira, better known as the woman 81 00:05:36,270 --> 00:05:38,539 Speaker 4: at the well. In the heat of the day, Zamira 82 00:05:38,570 --> 00:05:40,820 Speaker 4: goes to the city well to draw water for her 83 00:05:40,860 --> 00:05:43,940 Speaker 4: daily needs. But unlike the other women who go to 84 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 4: the well in the morning together, she decides to go 85 00:05:46,700 --> 00:05:49,260 Speaker 4: alone in the heat of the afternoon. It's clear that 86 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 4: while Zamira may have chosen to go alone, she never 87 00:05:51,850 --> 00:05:55,170 Speaker 4: wanted a life of loneliness. Because of her life trapped 88 00:05:55,210 --> 00:05:58,170 Speaker 4: in sin, She would rather separate herself from others than 89 00:05:58,230 --> 00:06:01,660 Speaker 4: endure their mockery and judgment. Rather than fight it, she 90 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 4: simply endures the words of hate, knowing that she has 91 00:06:03,980 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 4: no arguments against them. But Samira will find herself quite 92 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 4: surprised when Jesus stumbles upon her and strikes up a 93 00:06:11,220 --> 00:06:15,270 Speaker 4: conversation with a simple request. As it often is with Jesus, 94 00:06:15,529 --> 00:06:18,410 Speaker 4: there was much more he wanted to accomplish than just 95 00:06:18,470 --> 00:06:19,910 Speaker 4: getting a drink from the well. 96 00:06:22,650 --> 00:06:25,660 Speaker 5: Jesus, why are we leaving at noon? It's harder than 97 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 5: a camel wearing a wool coat. 98 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:28,710 Speaker 3: John whined. 99 00:06:30,110 --> 00:06:33,529 Speaker 1: Jesus and the disciples walked the dusty path between Judea 100 00:06:33,870 --> 00:06:39,029 Speaker 1: and Galilee. The sun's scorching rays chased them around each bend. 101 00:06:39,940 --> 00:06:42,659 Speaker 5: It will take two days to reach Galilee at least. 102 00:06:43,460 --> 00:06:46,380 Speaker 4: How about we stop in the nearby town and leave 103 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:47,940 Speaker 4: in the morning when it's a bit cooler? 104 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:54,570 Speaker 5: It won't take that long, John. We're going through Samaria. Jesus... 105 00:06:54,830 --> 00:06:57,570 Speaker 5: No rabbi who cares about his reputation would dare walk 106 00:06:57,589 --> 00:07:00,110 Speaker 5: through Samaria. It's a good thing I don't care about 107 00:07:00,150 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 5: my reputation then. The Pharisees care about their reputations more 108 00:07:04,130 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 5: than I do. That's why we're leaving Judea. They can 109 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 5: only handle so much of my teachings at once. I'm 110 00:07:11,300 --> 00:07:13,260 Speaker 5: leaving so they can cool off. 111 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 3: Cooling off sounds nice. James teased. 112 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: John fanned his older brother with his hand, smacking him 113 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,739 Speaker 1: in the face. The brothers shoved each other and laughed. 114 00:07:26,860 --> 00:07:30,220 Speaker 1: Their concern about going into Samaria was clouded by their 115 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: hunger and fatigue. They descended the path into Samaria near 116 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:40,030 Speaker 1: a town called Sychar. The disciples were wary of each 117 00:07:40,110 --> 00:07:45,890 Speaker 1: merchant and traveler passing. The Jews hated the Samarians. They 118 00:07:45,930 --> 00:07:50,410 Speaker 1: considered them half-breeds, compromising, and untrustworthy. 119 00:07:51,450 --> 00:07:51,890 Speaker 2: But Rabbi. 120 00:07:52,860 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 5: Maybe we could retreat into town for food before continuing. 121 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,080 Speaker 5: You go ahead into town on your own. I have 122 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:01,300 Speaker 5: someone I need to speak to. 123 00:08:02,140 --> 00:08:07,090 Speaker 1: The disciples departed into town. Each held their belongings close. 124 00:08:08,230 --> 00:08:12,390 Speaker 1: They didn't trust the Sumerians. None of them wanted to 125 00:08:12,430 --> 00:08:16,010 Speaker 1: be there. They had much to learn about the ministry 126 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:21,930 Speaker 1: of grace. Jesus watched the disciples leave. and summited a 127 00:08:21,970 --> 00:08:26,239 Speaker 1: small hill leading to a well. They were too struck 128 00:08:26,340 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: in their prejudice to recognize where they were. This wasn't 129 00:08:30,340 --> 00:08:34,979 Speaker 1: just Samaria. It was a place of great significance. It 130 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:40,450 Speaker 1: was Jacob's well, a sacred space in history, where God 131 00:08:40,570 --> 00:08:44,990 Speaker 1: met with the patriarchs of old. It was where Abraham 132 00:08:45,370 --> 00:08:49,819 Speaker 1: came into Canaan. It was where God first appeared to Abraham, 133 00:08:50,350 --> 00:08:55,290 Speaker 1: and renewed his promise. It was where Jacob made his 134 00:08:55,410 --> 00:08:59,740 Speaker 1: covenant with the Lord by building an altar. It was 135 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: where the bones of Joseph were buried and where Joshua 136 00:09:03,820 --> 00:09:07,679 Speaker 1: made a covenant with Israel, renewing their commitment to God. 137 00:09:09,370 --> 00:09:16,069 Speaker 1: It was a sacred space for sacred meetings. Jesus was 138 00:09:16,150 --> 00:09:20,719 Speaker 1: eager to add to that list of holy meetings Yet 139 00:09:20,780 --> 00:09:24,179 Speaker 1: it wasn't a hero of faith he was after, but 140 00:09:24,210 --> 00:09:29,189 Speaker 1: a lonely woman caught in a cycle of sin and shame. 141 00:09:31,990 --> 00:09:35,830 Speaker 1: Jesus marched up the hill to the well. He smiled 142 00:09:35,870 --> 00:09:39,850 Speaker 1: at the sun and shook his head. Jesus was the 143 00:09:39,910 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: creator of the sun, yet scorched by its heat. Even 144 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:50,050 Speaker 1: though he was all-powerful, He chose to submit himself to 145 00:09:50,090 --> 00:09:57,500 Speaker 1: the everyday hardship of existence. Sweaty and tired, he leaned 146 00:09:57,540 --> 00:09:59,510 Speaker 1: against the edge of the well to catch his breath. 147 00:10:01,380 --> 00:10:04,860 Speaker 1: Beside him was a woman drawing water into her clay jars. 148 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: She didn't look up at him or acknowledge his presence. 149 00:10:10,140 --> 00:10:15,930 Speaker 1: She continued pouring with her head held low. Jesus glanced 150 00:10:16,030 --> 00:10:17,710 Speaker 1: over at her and smiled. 151 00:10:18,790 --> 00:10:19,170 Speaker 3: Shalom. 152 00:10:19,950 --> 00:10:20,210 Speaker 2: Hello. 153 00:10:20,830 --> 00:10:22,689 Speaker 1: Would you be kind enough to draw me some water? 154 00:10:23,730 --> 00:10:27,550 Speaker 1: The woman glared at him in confusion. The heat of 155 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: the sun and her inner shame made matters difficult to muster. 156 00:10:32,300 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 2: Aren't you a Jew? 157 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 3: She scanned Jesus up and down. 158 00:10:35,740 --> 00:10:38,420 Speaker 2: And it looks like you're some sort of rabbi. Why 159 00:10:38,460 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 2: would you ask a Samaritan woman like me to give 160 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,670 Speaker 2: you a drink? Isn't it shameful to speak to a 161 00:10:43,690 --> 00:10:44,429 Speaker 2: Samaritan woman? 162 00:10:45,070 --> 00:10:49,370 Speaker 1: Zamyra was correct. Many Jewish rabbis of the time instructed 163 00:10:49,410 --> 00:10:53,050 Speaker 1: their followers not to even help a Samaritan woman if 164 00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:55,359 Speaker 1: she was giving birth on the side of the road. 165 00:10:56,780 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: They boasted in their ambivalence. But not Jesus. Jesus chuckled 166 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: and nodded his head in acknowledgement. With open palms, he replied, If. 167 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,699 Speaker 5: You knew the gift of God and who you're speaking to, 168 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,330 Speaker 5: you would be asking me for water. 169 00:11:17,220 --> 00:11:21,500 Speaker 3: Living water. The woman rolled her eyes and looked at Jesus, annoyed. 170 00:11:23,110 --> 00:11:26,170 Speaker 2: Sir, you have nothing to draw from, and there isn't 171 00:11:26,230 --> 00:11:29,650 Speaker 2: a river for miles. Where would you even get living water? 172 00:11:30,630 --> 00:11:35,569 Speaker 1: Samira didn't want to speak to anyone. She didn't know Jesus' angle, 173 00:11:36,410 --> 00:11:38,550 Speaker 1: or if this was all a setup to shame her 174 00:11:38,830 --> 00:11:44,890 Speaker 1: even more. Her guard was up. She didn't realize she 175 00:11:44,970 --> 00:11:48,810 Speaker 1: was like the well. and Jesus was about to draw 176 00:11:48,950 --> 00:11:53,850 Speaker 1: something out of her. Perceiving that Jesus was some sort 177 00:11:53,890 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: of rabbi, Samira spoke in terms she thought would placate him. 178 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 2: There's no living water here, sir, unless you think you're 179 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:06,060 Speaker 2: greater than our father Jacob. He dug this well and 180 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,829 Speaker 2: drank from it himself. His family and livestock drew water 181 00:12:09,850 --> 00:12:10,750 Speaker 2: from this well. 182 00:12:11,510 --> 00:12:14,070 Speaker 5: That is true, but they all had to come back 183 00:12:14,150 --> 00:12:18,470 Speaker 5: here again to drink more. Day after day, week after week, 184 00:12:18,570 --> 00:12:22,580 Speaker 5: month after month, they returned. Whoever drinks this water will 185 00:12:22,620 --> 00:12:25,619 Speaker 5: be thirsty again. They will have to return again and 186 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 5: again to fill up their jars, even in the heat 187 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:29,459 Speaker 5: of the day. 188 00:12:30,460 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: Jesus had caught Samira's attention. He was speaking about her 189 00:12:35,059 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: lived experience. Samira was tired of coming day after day 190 00:12:40,580 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: to the well. She was tired of coming alone. She 191 00:12:44,970 --> 00:12:48,300 Speaker 1: was tired of it all. The well may have been 192 00:12:48,340 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: a historic landmark to the Jews, but to Zamyra, there 193 00:12:52,140 --> 00:12:58,689 Speaker 1: was a monument to her loneliness, hardship, and shame. Jesus' 194 00:12:58,950 --> 00:13:01,110 Speaker 1: eyes narrowed like a hawk's. 195 00:13:02,170 --> 00:13:05,329 Speaker 5: Whoever drinks from this well will be thirsty again, but 196 00:13:06,290 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 5: whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst again. 197 00:13:10,940 --> 00:13:13,900 Speaker 5: The water I give them will become a spring of 198 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:19,220 Speaker 5: water like the rivers of Eden. bursting forth with eternal life. 199 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 2: Sir, if this offer is true, give me this water 200 00:13:24,059 --> 00:13:26,900 Speaker 2: so I won't get thirsty again. I have to come 201 00:13:26,950 --> 00:13:29,470 Speaker 2: here daily to get water, and I'm sick of it. 202 00:13:30,150 --> 00:13:32,870 Speaker 2: If I had the water you speak of, I wouldn't 203 00:13:32,929 --> 00:13:34,610 Speaker 2: have to come here in the scorching heat. 204 00:13:35,210 --> 00:13:38,250 Speaker 5: The offer is true. Go get your husband and return 205 00:13:38,309 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 5: here so I can give it to both of you. 206 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:47,189 Speaker 1: When Jesus mentioned her husband, everything changed. Zamyra's hope retreated 207 00:13:47,230 --> 00:13:51,060 Speaker 1: into a cold and dark place in her heart. The 208 00:13:51,100 --> 00:13:55,119 Speaker 1: brief lightness she allowed to shine through her gaze disappeared, 209 00:13:56,300 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: replaced with a calloused and impassive stare. 210 00:14:01,100 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 2: I don't have a husband. 211 00:14:03,420 --> 00:14:05,090 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, you're right. 212 00:14:05,850 --> 00:14:08,470 Speaker 5: You don't have a husband. The fact of the matter 213 00:14:08,510 --> 00:14:11,390 Speaker 5: is that you've had five husbands, and the man you're 214 00:14:11,410 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 5: currently living with, he's not your husband at all. At 215 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 5: least you've told the truth. 216 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:21,580 Speaker 1: Zamyra turned her shoulders away from Jesus. His words broke 217 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: hardened ground like a plow, breaking up rocks to soften 218 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:31,870 Speaker 1: the soil. Somehow, this stranger knew Zamyra's past and present sins. 219 00:14:33,490 --> 00:14:35,770 Speaker 1: She had a choice to face his statements head on 220 00:14:36,730 --> 00:14:39,690 Speaker 1: or ignore them. She chose the latter. 221 00:14:40,810 --> 00:14:44,310 Speaker 2: I can see that you're a prophet. Since you're clearly 222 00:14:44,350 --> 00:14:46,670 Speaker 2: a man of God, maybe you can settle a debate 223 00:14:46,710 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 2: between you Jews and us Samaritans. Our ancestors worshipped on 224 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 2: this mountain, but the Jews claim that the true place 225 00:14:53,860 --> 00:14:57,860 Speaker 2: of worship is in Jerusalem. Which place is better to worship? 226 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: Zamyra employed a tactic as old as time. Avoiding the 227 00:15:03,020 --> 00:15:07,230 Speaker 1: hard conversations of the heart by engaging in a vapid 228 00:15:07,290 --> 00:15:08,090 Speaker 1: religious debate. 229 00:15:09,730 --> 00:15:10,750 Speaker 3: Jesus wouldn't bite. 230 00:15:12,850 --> 00:15:13,570 Speaker 5: It doesn't matter. 231 00:15:14,330 --> 00:15:20,070 Speaker 1: Jesus' response surprised Samira. Jesus refused to play her game. 232 00:15:21,310 --> 00:15:24,090 Speaker 5: Believe me when I say a time is coming when 233 00:15:24,150 --> 00:15:27,290 Speaker 5: people will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor 234 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:32,100 Speaker 5: in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship in ignorance, for salvation comes 235 00:15:32,140 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 5: from the Jews. But I'm telling you, a time is 236 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,830 Speaker 5: coming and has now come. when true worshippers will worship 237 00:15:39,870 --> 00:15:45,140 Speaker 5: the Father in spirit and truth. Those are the worshippers 238 00:15:45,180 --> 00:15:48,660 Speaker 5: the Father will seek out. It doesn't matter which hill 239 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 5: they praise upon. God is spirit, and his worshippers, they 240 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,390 Speaker 5: must worship in spirit and in truth. 241 00:15:58,830 --> 00:16:03,010 Speaker 1: Zamyra's throat clenched. The thought of being able to worship 242 00:16:03,290 --> 00:16:09,730 Speaker 1: anywhere seemed so foreign yet So beautiful. Her connection to 243 00:16:09,790 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: God had been severed as of late. She had been 244 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:18,340 Speaker 1: made an outcast among the religious and faithful. She dared 245 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:22,180 Speaker 1: not enter the common gates of worship. She was too ashamed, 246 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: too dirty. 247 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:28,220 Speaker 2: So you say, I know that the Messiah is coming soon, 248 00:16:28,820 --> 00:16:31,950 Speaker 2: and when he comes, all these debates will be settled. 249 00:16:32,690 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 2: He'll explain everything to us. 250 00:16:35,210 --> 00:16:39,710 Speaker 1: Jesus looked at Zemira for a long time. For a 251 00:16:39,790 --> 00:16:43,990 Speaker 1: brief moment, a gentle breeze whistled through the arid valley. 252 00:16:45,650 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: It was a pleasant balm to the sun-scorched faces. Jesus' 253 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 1: eyes shone with a wisdom brighter than the sun above them. 254 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:58,860 Speaker 1: With the same voice that spoke life and light into 255 00:16:58,900 --> 00:17:02,620 Speaker 1: the chaotic void, Jesus declared, I. 256 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:11,670 Speaker 4: The woman at the well is one of the most 257 00:17:11,750 --> 00:17:15,369 Speaker 4: well-known encounters Jesus has with an outcast. What starts as 258 00:17:15,430 --> 00:17:18,770 Speaker 4: a seemingly nonchalant moment of Jesus looking for respite from 259 00:17:18,790 --> 00:17:21,750 Speaker 4: the day's heat and traveling quickly turns into one of 260 00:17:21,790 --> 00:17:25,649 Speaker 4: the most pivotal moments in his ministry. When Jesus hears 261 00:17:25,830 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 4: that he's gaining unfavorable notice from the Pharisees in Judea, 262 00:17:29,470 --> 00:17:32,100 Speaker 4: he and his disciples begin the journey back to Galilee. 263 00:17:32,630 --> 00:17:36,030 Speaker 4: To his disciples' surprise, Jesus chooses to go the most 264 00:17:36,090 --> 00:17:39,630 Speaker 4: direct route through Samaria. For centuries, the Jews had grown 265 00:17:39,670 --> 00:17:43,070 Speaker 4: to despise the Samaritans, viewing them as half-breeds who had 266 00:17:43,390 --> 00:17:47,450 Speaker 4: integrated and expanded as a people with non-Jews. Their disdain 267 00:17:47,490 --> 00:17:50,229 Speaker 4: for Samaritans went so far that when the need to 268 00:17:50,310 --> 00:17:53,330 Speaker 4: travel through the area arose, they would take the longer route, 269 00:17:53,410 --> 00:17:56,510 Speaker 4: crossing the Jordan River, rather than stoop so low to 270 00:17:56,550 --> 00:17:59,649 Speaker 4: be seen in a Samaritan village and associated with the 271 00:17:59,670 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 4: people there. Imagine you're from California, going to Texas, and 272 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 4: you hate the people from Arizona so much, you're willing 273 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,830 Speaker 4: to go up and through the Rocky Mountains to avoid them. 274 00:18:09,630 --> 00:18:12,710 Speaker 4: Suffice it to say, it was expected that Jews would 275 00:18:12,730 --> 00:18:16,910 Speaker 4: avoid any interaction with Samaritans. Yet as the disciples go 276 00:18:16,950 --> 00:18:20,899 Speaker 4: into town to find food, here's Jesus intentionally addressing a 277 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:24,140 Speaker 4: woman at the well. While it may not seem like 278 00:18:24,220 --> 00:18:28,460 Speaker 4: much at first, even Jesus' opening request would cause alarm 279 00:18:28,500 --> 00:18:31,060 Speaker 4: for the people of his day. Not only was he 280 00:18:31,140 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 4: talking to a woman and a Samaritan, he was asking 281 00:18:34,340 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 4: her for a favor, a drink of water. Because he 282 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:39,740 Speaker 4: had nothing to draw from the well and no vessel 283 00:18:39,780 --> 00:18:42,380 Speaker 4: to drink from, the implication is that he was willing 284 00:18:42,420 --> 00:18:44,659 Speaker 4: to drink from one of her cups. But it was 285 00:18:44,770 --> 00:18:47,890 Speaker 4: understood by any good Jew that you wouldn't even share 286 00:18:47,930 --> 00:18:51,369 Speaker 4: a dish with a Samaritan. But Jesus didn't play by 287 00:18:51,430 --> 00:18:54,310 Speaker 4: the same rules as others. Jesus knew the heart of 288 00:18:54,330 --> 00:18:59,130 Speaker 4: the Father and understood that man-made religiosity rarely accomplished anything good. 289 00:18:59,740 --> 00:19:02,719 Speaker 4: Almost always, it impeded the work of the Father. One 290 00:19:02,740 --> 00:19:05,450 Speaker 4: of the main things it hindered was his determination to 291 00:19:05,530 --> 00:19:08,530 Speaker 4: reach people, especially the lost and the lonely of the world. 292 00:19:09,070 --> 00:19:11,149 Speaker 4: So it's not surprising that Jesus would not only be 293 00:19:11,210 --> 00:19:14,389 Speaker 4: willing to talk with Zamira, but purposefully put himself in 294 00:19:14,410 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 4: a situation that allowed him to do so. Zamira had 295 00:19:17,619 --> 00:19:20,380 Speaker 4: found herself deep in her sin, pulling her away from 296 00:19:20,500 --> 00:19:24,139 Speaker 4: any sense of meaningful help or community. This is the 297 00:19:24,180 --> 00:19:27,140 Speaker 4: natural inclination many people have when they're faced with their sin. 298 00:19:27,790 --> 00:19:29,990 Speaker 4: We even see this with the original sin of Adam 299 00:19:30,030 --> 00:19:32,750 Speaker 4: and Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. 300 00:19:32,750 --> 00:19:34,780 Speaker 4: After they sin against God by eating the fruit of 301 00:19:34,820 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 4: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their 302 00:19:36,700 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 4: immediate instinct is to hide from God, to pull away 303 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 4: from the community they once shared with Him. While they 304 00:19:42,859 --> 00:19:45,669 Speaker 4: couldn't escape Him, they removed themselves from His presence out 305 00:19:45,710 --> 00:19:48,030 Speaker 4: of shame. And this is the pattern that we can 306 00:19:48,150 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 4: often find ourselves in. We sin, we draw back. We 307 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 4: sin again, we draw back some more. And this continues 308 00:19:54,820 --> 00:19:58,500 Speaker 4: until we find ourselves isolated and alone from everyone. Being 309 00:19:58,580 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 4: stuck in our feelings of worthlessness can be one of 310 00:20:01,100 --> 00:20:04,060 Speaker 4: the loneliest places we find ourselves in. We can be 311 00:20:04,100 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 4: surrounded by the largest of crowds, yet still feel completely 312 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:11,290 Speaker 4: unseen and unknown. And oftentimes, when we fall into a 313 00:20:11,369 --> 00:20:14,710 Speaker 4: deep or long enough pattern of sin, we trick ourselves 314 00:20:14,750 --> 00:20:18,660 Speaker 4: into thinking we don't deserve a break. We convince ourselves 315 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,179 Speaker 4: that our consequence should be to be stuck in that 316 00:20:21,220 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 4: place forever, creating an endless cycle to just continue the pattern. 317 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:28,939 Speaker 4: Loneliness birthed from this place can be a nasty struggle. 318 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,660 Speaker 4: Once we feel separated from others, it can be both 319 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,610 Speaker 4: hard to try and build relationships as well as feel 320 00:20:34,619 --> 00:20:37,780 Speaker 4: like the efforts to connect are actually genuine. We see 321 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:41,260 Speaker 4: this with Zamira. She doesn't actually believe Jesus wants to 322 00:20:41,300 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 4: have a conversation with her. For years, she's put up 323 00:20:44,380 --> 00:20:47,420 Speaker 4: walls around herself to protect herself from the words of others. 324 00:20:47,859 --> 00:20:50,030 Speaker 4: And as soon as someone genuinely comes along to have 325 00:20:50,070 --> 00:20:52,750 Speaker 4: a pleasant conversation with her, she puts her guard up 326 00:20:52,910 --> 00:20:55,469 Speaker 4: and the gentle words of Jesus hit her ears for 327 00:20:55,510 --> 00:20:59,830 Speaker 4: the first time and they more sting than soothe. In 328 00:20:59,850 --> 00:21:02,370 Speaker 4: the technical sense, it's easier for us to be lonely 329 00:21:02,430 --> 00:21:06,400 Speaker 4: than find ways to change our loneliness. Relationships in any 330 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:09,400 Speaker 4: form can be difficult to find, grow, and maintain, so 331 00:21:09,740 --> 00:21:11,899 Speaker 4: we often learn to settle for life on our own. 332 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,699 Speaker 4: While life alone may be easier in many senses, it 333 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:19,699 Speaker 4: certainly isn't better for us. Christ came to break us 334 00:21:19,770 --> 00:21:22,629 Speaker 4: from cycles of sin and loneliness, and He sets us 335 00:21:22,710 --> 00:21:24,810 Speaker 4: on a new path down a road of redemption if 336 00:21:24,850 --> 00:21:27,209 Speaker 4: we allow Him to, just as He did for this 337 00:21:27,270 --> 00:21:29,810 Speaker 4: woman at the well. We were created to be in 338 00:21:29,869 --> 00:21:34,570 Speaker 4: community— community with God, community with others— But it requires that 339 00:21:34,590 --> 00:21:37,670 Speaker 4: we take leaps of faith. It requires that we're willing 340 00:21:37,710 --> 00:21:41,710 Speaker 4: to change. It requires some level of openness. It calls 341 00:21:41,750 --> 00:21:43,630 Speaker 4: us to trust in Him and confess that we need 342 00:21:43,650 --> 00:21:46,189 Speaker 4: to be saved from our sins. It demands that we 343 00:21:46,260 --> 00:21:48,659 Speaker 4: learn to be vulnerable with others and invest in building 344 00:21:48,740 --> 00:21:52,919 Speaker 4: strong relationships. It sounds complicated at first, but over time, 345 00:21:53,020 --> 00:21:55,639 Speaker 4: we'll find that living in submission to Christ and building 346 00:21:55,660 --> 00:21:58,300 Speaker 4: community with others is less daunting than we may have 347 00:21:58,340 --> 00:22:01,739 Speaker 4: thought initially. The more we invest in these relationships, the 348 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 4: easier they tend to become, and the more joy we 349 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 4: find in them. My wife and I were once new 350 00:22:07,500 --> 00:22:11,500 Speaker 4: to the city, without any friends and deep relationships. My 351 00:22:11,540 --> 00:22:14,340 Speaker 4: wife and I were new to the city of Santa Barbara, California, 352 00:22:14,580 --> 00:22:18,380 Speaker 4: without any friends or deep and meaningful relationships. On top 353 00:22:18,420 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 4: of that, we were new parents in the midst of COVID. 354 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 4: For a while, it was easier to fold into ourselves 355 00:22:23,940 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 4: and isolate, but eventually we felt a deep need for community. 356 00:22:28,260 --> 00:22:30,659 Speaker 4: This need sparked action in us. We chose to be 357 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 4: vulnerable and reach out to people. We chose to be 358 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:35,870 Speaker 4: uncomfortable and hosted others in our home. We decided that 359 00:22:36,109 --> 00:22:39,649 Speaker 4: the strenuous and awkward effort of building community was actually 360 00:22:39,690 --> 00:22:42,969 Speaker 4: worth it because the pain of isolation was worse than 361 00:22:42,990 --> 00:22:46,109 Speaker 4: the pain of reaching out. It's refreshing to feel known, 362 00:22:46,530 --> 00:22:49,530 Speaker 4: but it doesn't come without a need for change and effort. 363 00:22:50,050 --> 00:22:52,830 Speaker 4: Something extraordinary about our relationship with Jesus is that he 364 00:22:52,869 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 4: can relate to us on every human level because he 365 00:22:55,859 --> 00:22:58,870 Speaker 4: chose to become like us. He entered into humanity to 366 00:22:58,940 --> 00:23:01,950 Speaker 4: experience life in the same ways we do. This means 367 00:23:02,010 --> 00:23:05,230 Speaker 4: that he can understand our loneliness beyond our intellectual level. 368 00:23:05,810 --> 00:23:08,290 Speaker 4: He has experienced it just as we have and wants 369 00:23:08,330 --> 00:23:11,109 Speaker 4: to take those feelings from us. So much so that 370 00:23:11,170 --> 00:23:14,530 Speaker 4: he calls us to be his friends. People he cares for. 371 00:23:14,790 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 4: People he wants to be around. People he loves with 372 00:23:17,260 --> 00:23:21,020 Speaker 4: the most profound sense of love. For Zamira, no doubt 373 00:23:21,100 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 4: all of these marriages and relationships in her life were 374 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:27,010 Speaker 4: a result of loneliness. the result of this need for connection, 375 00:23:27,210 --> 00:23:29,950 Speaker 4: this need for love. But what we look for in 376 00:23:29,990 --> 00:23:33,189 Speaker 4: the world can only be found in Jesus truly. The 377 00:23:33,210 --> 00:23:34,830 Speaker 4: story of the woman at the well is a key 378 00:23:34,869 --> 00:23:37,889 Speaker 4: point in Jesus's ministry, as this is what he does 379 00:23:38,010 --> 00:23:41,290 Speaker 4: for all of us. We find ourselves caught in cycles 380 00:23:41,350 --> 00:23:45,150 Speaker 4: of sin and loneliness, but Jesus is gonna draw it out, 381 00:23:45,580 --> 00:23:48,340 Speaker 4: just like water from a well. If you're feeling trapped 382 00:23:48,380 --> 00:23:50,719 Speaker 4: in sin or loneliness, know that Jesus sees you, he 383 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,959 Speaker 4: loves you, and he wants you. If you put your 384 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,189 Speaker 4: faith in him today, you will belong to him forevermore. 385 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:58,959 Speaker 4: Join us in our next episode as we conclude this 386 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,630 Speaker 4: story of the woman at the well, and we find 387 00:24:01,730 --> 00:24:04,450 Speaker 4: that Zemira is empowered for a mission ahead.