1 00:00:01,010 --> 00:00:05,250 Speaker 1: But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, 2 00:00:05,290 --> 00:00:08,170 Speaker 1: the water I give them will become in them a 3 00:00:08,289 --> 00:00:15,210 Speaker 1: spring of water, welling up to eternal life. John 4.14 4 00:00:16,380 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: Dear Lord, we are thirsty and in need of refreshment today. 5 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: The world's troubles and the anxiety of everyday life can 6 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:32,190 Speaker 1: take their toll, leaving us needy and parched. Would you 7 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:36,290 Speaker 1: refresh us with your Spirit? Would you fill us to 8 00:00:36,310 --> 00:00:42,930 Speaker 1: the brim with life, light, and love? We want to 9 00:00:42,970 --> 00:00:46,690 Speaker 1: be so filled with your love and truth that others 10 00:00:46,770 --> 00:00:52,860 Speaker 1: are refreshed by our presence. May our homes, workplaces, and 11 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: families be filled with your Spirit because we are near. 12 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:00,460 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name we pray. 13 00:01:02,250 --> 00:01:02,490 Speaker 2: Amen. 14 00:01:04,770 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to 15 00:01:07,940 --> 00:01:12,740 Speaker 1: The Jesus Podcast, cinematic gospel stories that cut straight to 16 00:01:12,780 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: the heart and transform our lives. This episode is for 17 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: anyone who has felt the weight of shame or like 18 00:01:20,890 --> 00:01:26,030 Speaker 1: an outcast. Listen and be swept away in the emotional 19 00:01:26,090 --> 00:01:30,550 Speaker 1: story of the woman at the well. follow this podcast 20 00:01:30,690 --> 00:01:34,410 Speaker 1: on whatever platform you're listening to. Doing so will keep 21 00:01:34,430 --> 00:01:38,350 Speaker 1: you updated, but also help us get discovered by more people. 22 00:01:39,290 --> 00:01:42,490 Speaker 1: We want the story of Jesus to be known throughout 23 00:01:42,530 --> 00:01:48,910 Speaker 1: the world. Thanks for making that possible. Zamyra wiped the 24 00:01:48,970 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: sweat off her brow, cursing under her breath as she 25 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:54,660 Speaker 1: dragged her feet up the winding path. 26 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 3: To the well. 27 00:01:56,890 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: The rod holding two empty jars dug into her neck 28 00:02:00,940 --> 00:02:04,620 Speaker 1: as she submitted the hill. The sun's harsh rays were 29 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: relentless and would only worsen as the day passed. She 30 00:02:10,380 --> 00:02:15,790 Speaker 1: finally reached the well and leaned against its edge. She 31 00:02:15,850 --> 00:02:18,650 Speaker 1: ran her hand through some of the water and pressed 32 00:02:18,690 --> 00:02:24,139 Speaker 1: it against her neck. She sighed in relief and closed 33 00:02:24,180 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: her eyes. The afternoons weren't kind to Samira. Very few 34 00:02:30,820 --> 00:02:35,940 Speaker 1: parts of life were. A few women from town were 35 00:02:35,980 --> 00:02:40,100 Speaker 1: leaving with full jars on their heads. They glanced at 36 00:02:40,139 --> 00:02:45,490 Speaker 1: Samira and scowled as they passed. Their eyes were like daggers, 37 00:02:46,310 --> 00:02:49,150 Speaker 1: cutting through Samira's already fragile self-esteem. 38 00:02:49,910 --> 00:02:52,550 Speaker 2: Haven't seen you in a while, Samira. Whose bed are 39 00:02:52,590 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 2: you sharing lately? Does he keep you too busy in 40 00:02:56,210 --> 00:02:57,810 Speaker 2: the morning to join the rest of us? 41 00:02:58,870 --> 00:03:03,410 Speaker 1: Zamyra said nothing. She kept her head down and dabbed 42 00:03:03,450 --> 00:03:08,430 Speaker 1: her neck with a wet cloth. These types of interactions 43 00:03:08,490 --> 00:03:14,300 Speaker 1: were precisely why she avoided the well in the mornings. Usually, 44 00:03:14,419 --> 00:03:16,700 Speaker 1: most of the women were gone by this time of day. 45 00:03:19,620 --> 00:03:22,260 Speaker 1: The women rolled their eyes and departed down the path. 46 00:03:23,860 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: So Myra watched them leave. She thought about cursing them. 47 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:34,470 Speaker 1: She thought about crying. Instead, she clenched her jaw and 48 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:39,170 Speaker 1: buried it all, feeling nothing was better than wallowing in 49 00:03:39,230 --> 00:03:46,910 Speaker 1: more shame. The heat mocked her. Her back was drenched 50 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,740 Speaker 1: in sweat, and her legs ached from marching all day 51 00:03:50,780 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: in the sun. Most women went to the well early 52 00:03:54,980 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: in the morning to avoid the heat, but not Zamyra. 53 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:03,900 Speaker 1: She marched at noon, avoiding the judgment glares, punishing her 54 00:04:03,980 --> 00:04:09,020 Speaker 1: for her sins. It's what you deserve, she whispered to herself. 55 00:04:11,100 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: Zamyra's self-worth had eroded with each passing day. The sins 56 00:04:16,710 --> 00:04:21,289 Speaker 1: she had committed, and the sins committed against her, had 57 00:04:21,350 --> 00:04:26,010 Speaker 1: sanded down her dignity She drew some water from the 58 00:04:26,070 --> 00:04:29,610 Speaker 1: well into one of the jars, wishing the sun would 59 00:04:29,750 --> 00:04:32,650 Speaker 1: melt her like wax, so she would never have to 60 00:04:32,710 --> 00:04:38,190 Speaker 1: return to the well again. Sin is like an infection. 61 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,070 Speaker 4: If it's not dealt with, it will only continue to 62 00:04:41,150 --> 00:04:45,420 Speaker 4: grow and consume. Once we let sin in, its natural 63 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 4: tendency is to spread. What starts as a small compromise 64 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,980 Speaker 4: leads to another large one. But the Apostle John gives 65 00:04:53,060 --> 00:04:55,900 Speaker 4: us hope in 1 John 1.8. If we claim to 66 00:04:55,940 --> 00:04:58,250 Speaker 4: be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is 67 00:04:58,290 --> 00:05:00,530 Speaker 4: not in us. If we confess our sins, he is 68 00:05:00,589 --> 00:05:02,690 Speaker 4: faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins 69 00:05:02,910 --> 00:05:06,290 Speaker 4: and purify us from all unrighteousness. The first step to 70 00:05:06,330 --> 00:05:08,930 Speaker 4: eradicating sin in our lives is confessing it to the 71 00:05:09,110 --> 00:05:11,990 Speaker 4: one who can heal us of it. This is the 72 00:05:12,050 --> 00:05:16,790 Speaker 4: Jesus Podcast. Gospel stories told with cinematic quality and careful reflection. 73 00:05:17,390 --> 00:05:20,410 Speaker 4: I'm Zach, your host from Pray.com, and I'm excited to 74 00:05:20,450 --> 00:05:23,610 Speaker 4: be back with another story of how Jesus meets, cares for, 75 00:05:23,910 --> 00:05:27,029 Speaker 4: and loves the outcast. What we will find in today's 76 00:05:27,070 --> 00:05:29,190 Speaker 4: story is probably relatable. 77 00:05:28,750 --> 00:05:29,410 Speaker 1: To most of us. 78 00:05:29,890 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 4: The pains of loneliness and the struggle to feel connected. 79 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:36,220 Speaker 4: We'll be introduced to Zamira, better known as the woman 80 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,500 Speaker 4: at the well. In the heat of the day, Zamira 81 00:05:38,540 --> 00:05:40,780 Speaker 4: goes to the city well to draw water for her 82 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,900 Speaker 4: daily needs. But unlike the other women who go to 83 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,589 Speaker 4: the well in the morning together, she decides to go 84 00:05:46,670 --> 00:05:49,230 Speaker 4: alone in the heat of the afternoon. It's clear that 85 00:05:49,270 --> 00:05:51,730 Speaker 4: while Zamira may have chosen to go alone, she never 86 00:05:51,810 --> 00:05:55,130 Speaker 4: wanted a life of loneliness. Because of her life trapped 87 00:05:55,190 --> 00:05:58,140 Speaker 4: in sin, She would rather separate herself from others than 88 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,620 Speaker 4: endure their mockery and judgment. Rather than fight it, she 89 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,900 Speaker 4: simply endures the words of hate, knowing that she has 90 00:06:03,940 --> 00:06:07,810 Speaker 4: no arguments against them. But Samira will find herself quite 91 00:06:07,870 --> 00:06:11,150 Speaker 4: surprised when Jesus stumbles upon her and strikes up a 92 00:06:11,190 --> 00:06:15,250 Speaker 4: conversation with a simple request. As it often is with Jesus, 93 00:06:15,490 --> 00:06:18,390 Speaker 4: there was much more he wanted to accomplish than just 94 00:06:18,450 --> 00:06:19,890 Speaker 4: getting a drink from the well. 95 00:06:22,620 --> 00:06:24,340 Speaker 5: Jesus, why are we leaving at noon? 96 00:06:25,010 --> 00:06:27,390 Speaker 3: It's harder than a camel wearing a wool coat. 97 00:06:28,050 --> 00:06:32,570 Speaker 1: John whined. Jesus and the disciples walked the dusty path 98 00:06:32,630 --> 00:06:37,930 Speaker 1: between Judea and Galilee. The sun's scorching rays chased them 99 00:06:37,990 --> 00:06:38,990 Speaker 1: around each bend. 100 00:06:39,890 --> 00:06:42,609 Speaker 3: It will take two days to reach Galilee at least. 101 00:06:43,430 --> 00:06:46,330 Speaker 3: How about we stop in the nearby town and leave 102 00:06:46,350 --> 00:06:47,910 Speaker 3: in the morning when it's a bit cooler? 103 00:06:49,570 --> 00:06:53,030 Speaker 5: It won't take that long, John. We're going through Samaria. 104 00:06:53,730 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 3: Jesus... No rabbi who cares about his reputation would dare 105 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:58,300 Speaker 3: walk through Samaria. 106 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 5: It's a good thing I don't care about my reputation, then. 107 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,659 Speaker 5: The Pharisees care about their reputations more than I do. 108 00:07:05,700 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 5: That's why we're leaving Judea. They can only handle so 109 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 5: much of my teachings at once. I'm leaving so they 110 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 5: can cool off. 111 00:07:14,180 --> 00:07:15,500 Speaker 4: Cooling off sounds nice. 112 00:07:16,740 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: James teased. John fanned his older brother with his hand, 113 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: smacking him in the face. The brothers shoved each other 114 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,770 Speaker 1: and laughed. Their concern about going into Samaria was clouded 115 00:07:29,850 --> 00:07:34,410 Speaker 1: by their hunger and fatigue. They descended the path into 116 00:07:34,450 --> 00:07:39,610 Speaker 1: Samaria near a town called Sychar. The disciples were wary 117 00:07:39,690 --> 00:07:45,010 Speaker 1: of each merchant and traveler passing. The Jews hated the Samarians. 118 00:07:45,740 --> 00:07:50,380 Speaker 1: They considered them half-breeds, compromising, and untrustworthy. 119 00:07:51,420 --> 00:07:55,220 Speaker 5: The rabbi Maybe we could retreat into town for food 120 00:07:55,620 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 5: before continuing. You go ahead into town on your own. 121 00:07:59,850 --> 00:08:01,290 Speaker 5: I have someone I need to speak to. 122 00:08:02,130 --> 00:08:07,070 Speaker 1: The disciples departed into town. Each held their belongings close. 123 00:08:08,210 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: They didn't trust the Sumerians. None of them wanted to 124 00:08:12,390 --> 00:08:15,980 Speaker 1: be there. They had much to learn about the ministry 125 00:08:16,020 --> 00:08:21,900 Speaker 1: of grace. Jesus watched the disciples leave. and summited a 126 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:26,220 Speaker 1: small hill leading to a well. They were too struck 127 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: in their prejudice to recognize where they were. This wasn't 128 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:34,969 Speaker 1: just Samaria. It was a place of great significance. It 129 00:08:35,010 --> 00:08:40,410 Speaker 1: was Jacob's well, a sacred space in history, where God 130 00:08:40,550 --> 00:08:44,949 Speaker 1: met with the patriarchs of old. It was where Abraham 131 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: came into Canaan. It was where God first appeared to Abraham, 132 00:08:50,330 --> 00:08:55,260 Speaker 1: and renewed his promise. It was where Jacob made his 133 00:08:55,380 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: covenant with the Lord by building an altar. It was 134 00:08:59,780 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: where the bones of Joseph were buried and where Joshua 135 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:07,650 Speaker 1: made a covenant with Israel, renewing their commitment to God. 136 00:09:09,350 --> 00:09:16,050 Speaker 1: It was a sacred space for sacred meetings. Jesus was 137 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:20,710 Speaker 1: eager to add to that list of holy meetings Yet 138 00:09:20,770 --> 00:09:24,150 Speaker 1: it wasn't a hero of faith he was after, but 139 00:09:24,190 --> 00:09:29,150 Speaker 1: a lonely woman caught in a cycle of sin and shame. 140 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: Jesus marched up the hill to the well. He smiled 141 00:09:35,860 --> 00:09:39,820 Speaker 1: at the sun and shook his head. Jesus was the 142 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:45,300 Speaker 1: creator of the sun, yet scorched by its heat. Even 143 00:09:45,340 --> 00:09:50,030 Speaker 1: though he was all-powerful, He chose to submit himself to 144 00:09:50,070 --> 00:09:57,470 Speaker 1: the everyday hardship of existence. Sweaty and tired, he leaned 145 00:09:57,510 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: against the edge of the well to catch his breath. 146 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 1: Beside him was a woman drawing water into her clay jars. 147 00:10:06,620 --> 00:10:08,820 Speaker 1: She didn't look up at him or acknowledge his presence. 148 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:15,900 Speaker 1: She continued pouring with her head held low. Jesus glanced 149 00:10:15,980 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: over at her and smiled. 150 00:10:18,770 --> 00:10:20,179 Speaker 5: Shalom Hello. 151 00:10:20,820 --> 00:10:22,660 Speaker 1: Would you be kind enough to draw me some water? 152 00:10:23,700 --> 00:10:27,540 Speaker 1: The woman glared at him in confusion. The heat of 153 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:31,540 Speaker 1: the sun and her inner shame made matters difficult to muster. 154 00:10:32,270 --> 00:10:33,010 Speaker 2: Aren't you a Jew? 155 00:10:33,730 --> 00:10:35,089 Speaker 1: She scanned Jesus up and down. 156 00:10:35,710 --> 00:10:38,390 Speaker 2: And it looks like you're some sort of rabbi. Why 157 00:10:38,429 --> 00:10:40,689 Speaker 2: would you ask a Samaritan woman like me to give 158 00:10:40,730 --> 00:10:43,630 Speaker 2: you a drink? Isn't it shameful to speak to a 159 00:10:43,650 --> 00:10:44,390 Speaker 2: Samaritan woman? 160 00:10:45,030 --> 00:10:49,359 Speaker 1: Zemira was correct. Many Jewish rabbis of the time instructed 161 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:53,020 Speaker 1: their followers not to even help a Samaritan woman if 162 00:10:53,059 --> 00:10:55,339 Speaker 1: she was giving birth on the side of the road. 163 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:03,850 Speaker 1: They boasted in their ambivalence. But not Jesus. Jesus chuckled 164 00:11:04,500 --> 00:11:09,330 Speaker 1: and nodded his head in acknowledgement. With open palms, he replied. 165 00:11:10,330 --> 00:11:12,990 Speaker 5: If you knew the gift of God and who you're 166 00:11:13,030 --> 00:11:17,990 Speaker 5: speaking to, you would be asking me for water. Living water. 167 00:11:18,790 --> 00:11:21,470 Speaker 1: The woman rolled her eyes and looked at Jesus, annoyed. 168 00:11:23,070 --> 00:11:26,130 Speaker 2: Sir, you have nothing to draw from, and there isn't 169 00:11:26,190 --> 00:11:29,630 Speaker 2: a river for miles. Where would you even get living water? 170 00:11:30,610 --> 00:11:35,550 Speaker 1: Samira didn't want to speak to anyone. She didn't know Jesus' angle, 171 00:11:36,390 --> 00:11:38,510 Speaker 1: or if this was all a setup to shame her 172 00:11:38,790 --> 00:11:44,859 Speaker 1: even more. Her guard was up. She didn't realize she 173 00:11:44,940 --> 00:11:48,780 Speaker 1: was like the well. And Jesus was about to draw 174 00:11:48,940 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 1: something out of her. Perceiving that Jesus was some sort 175 00:11:53,860 --> 00:11:58,620 Speaker 1: of rabbi, Samira spoke in terms she thought would placate him. 176 00:11:59,370 --> 00:12:02,630 Speaker 2: There's no living water here, sir, unless you think you're 177 00:12:02,650 --> 00:12:06,050 Speaker 2: greater than our father Jacob. He dug this well and 178 00:12:06,110 --> 00:12:09,790 Speaker 2: drank from it himself. His family and livestock drew water 179 00:12:09,830 --> 00:12:10,710 Speaker 2: from this well. 180 00:12:11,470 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 5: That is true, but they all had to come back 181 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:18,460 Speaker 5: here again to drink more. Day after day, week after week, 182 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:22,559 Speaker 5: month after month, they returned. Whoever drinks this water will 183 00:12:22,580 --> 00:12:25,579 Speaker 5: be thirsty again. They will have to return again and 184 00:12:25,660 --> 00:12:28,860 Speaker 5: again to fill up their jars, even in the heat 185 00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:29,420 Speaker 5: of the day. 186 00:12:30,420 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: Jesus had caught Samira's attention. He was speaking about her 187 00:12:35,020 --> 00:12:40,490 Speaker 1: lived experience. Samira was tired of coming day after day 188 00:12:40,570 --> 00:12:44,910 Speaker 1: to the well. She was tired of coming alone. She 189 00:12:44,929 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: was tired of it all. The well may have been 190 00:12:48,330 --> 00:12:52,090 Speaker 1: a historic landmark to the Jews, but to Zamyra, there 191 00:12:52,130 --> 00:12:58,650 Speaker 1: was a monument to her loneliness, hardship, and shame. Jesus' 192 00:12:58,910 --> 00:13:01,070 Speaker 1: eyes narrowed like a hawk's. 193 00:13:02,130 --> 00:13:05,300 Speaker 5: Whoever drinks from this well will be thirsty again, but 194 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 5: whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst again. 195 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,860 Speaker 5: The water I give them will become a spring of 196 00:13:13,940 --> 00:13:19,180 Speaker 5: water like the rivers of Eden. bursting forth with eternal life. 197 00:13:20,670 --> 00:13:23,969 Speaker 2: Sir, if this offer is true, give me this water 198 00:13:24,030 --> 00:13:26,890 Speaker 2: so I won't get thirsty again. I have to come 199 00:13:26,910 --> 00:13:29,450 Speaker 2: here daily to get water, and I'm sick of it. 200 00:13:30,110 --> 00:13:32,860 Speaker 2: If I had the water you speak of, I wouldn't 201 00:13:32,900 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 2: have to come here in the scorching heat. 202 00:13:35,179 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 5: The offer is true. Go get your husband and return 203 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 5: here so I can give it to both of you. 204 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: When Jesus mentioned her husband, everything changed. Zamyra's hope retreated 205 00:13:47,220 --> 00:13:51,020 Speaker 1: into a cold and dark place in her heart. The 206 00:13:51,059 --> 00:13:55,099 Speaker 1: brief lightness she allowed to shine through her gaze disappeared, 207 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,210 Speaker 1: replaced with a calloused and impassive stare. 208 00:14:01,070 --> 00:14:02,530 Speaker 2: I don't have a husband. 209 00:14:03,410 --> 00:14:07,750 Speaker 5: Yes, yes, you're right. You don't have a husband. The 210 00:14:07,770 --> 00:14:10,050 Speaker 5: fact of the matter is that you've had five husbands, 211 00:14:10,790 --> 00:14:13,330 Speaker 5: and the man you're currently living with, he's not your 212 00:14:13,350 --> 00:14:16,330 Speaker 5: husband at all. At least you've told the truth. 213 00:14:17,410 --> 00:14:21,550 Speaker 1: Zamyra turned her shoulders away from Jesus. His words broke 214 00:14:21,610 --> 00:14:25,110 Speaker 1: hardened ground like a plow, breaking up rocks to soften 215 00:14:25,130 --> 00:14:31,850 Speaker 1: the soil. Somehow, this stranger knew Zamyra's past and present sins. 216 00:14:33,450 --> 00:14:35,750 Speaker 1: She had a choice to face his statements head on 217 00:14:36,710 --> 00:14:39,670 Speaker 1: or ignore them. She chose the latter. 218 00:14:40,790 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 2: I can see that you're a prophet. Since you're clearly 219 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,660 Speaker 2: a man of God, maybe you can settle a debate 220 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,820 Speaker 2: between you Jews and us Samaritans. Our ancestors worshipped on 221 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 2: this mountain, but the Jews claim that the true place 222 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:57,830 Speaker 2: of worship is in Jerusalem. Which place is better to worship? 223 00:14:58,510 --> 00:15:02,930 Speaker 1: Zamyra employed a tactic as old as time, avoiding the 224 00:15:02,990 --> 00:15:07,190 Speaker 1: hard conversations of the heart by engaging in a vapid 225 00:15:07,270 --> 00:15:10,710 Speaker 1: religious debate. Jesus wouldn't bite. 226 00:15:12,810 --> 00:15:13,530 Speaker 5: It doesn't matter. 227 00:15:14,290 --> 00:15:20,030 Speaker 1: Jesus' response surprised Samira. Jesus refused to play her game. 228 00:15:21,290 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 5: Believe me when I say a time is coming when 229 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,260 Speaker 5: people will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor 230 00:15:27,340 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 5: in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship in ignorance, for salvation comes 231 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 5: from the Jews. But I'm telling you, a time is 232 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 5: coming and has now come. When true worshippers will worship 233 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:45,100 Speaker 5: the Father in spirit and truth, those are the worshippers 234 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,620 Speaker 5: the Father will seek out. It doesn't matter which hill 235 00:15:48,660 --> 00:15:54,130 Speaker 5: they praise upon. God is spirit, and his worshippers, they 236 00:15:54,170 --> 00:15:57,370 Speaker 5: must worship in spirit and in truth. 237 00:15:58,790 --> 00:16:02,990 Speaker 1: Zamyra's throat clenched. The thought of being able to worship 238 00:16:03,250 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: anywhere seemed so foreign yet So beautiful. Her connection to 239 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: God had been severed as of late. She had been 240 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: made an outcast among the religious and faithful. She dared 241 00:16:18,460 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: not enter the common gates of worship. She was too ashamed, 242 00:16:22,910 --> 00:16:23,450 Speaker 1: too dirty. 243 00:16:24,370 --> 00:16:28,190 Speaker 2: So you say, I know that the Messiah is coming soon, 244 00:16:28,810 --> 00:16:31,910 Speaker 2: and when he comes, all these debates will be settled. 245 00:16:32,670 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 2: He'll explain everything to us. 246 00:16:35,170 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: Jesus looked at Zemira for a long time. For a 247 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: brief moment, a gentle breeze whistled through the arid valley. 248 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:50,380 Speaker 1: It was a pleasant balm to the sun-scorched faces. Jesus' 249 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,980 Speaker 1: eyes shone with a wisdom brighter than the sun above them. 250 00:16:55,420 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: With the same voice that spoke life and light into 251 00:16:58,860 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: the chaotic void, Jesus declared, I. 252 00:17:05,450 --> 00:17:11,650 Speaker 4: The woman at the well is one of the most 253 00:17:11,730 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 4: well-known encounters Jesus has with an outcast. What starts as 254 00:17:15,390 --> 00:17:18,739 Speaker 4: a seemingly nonchalant moment of Jesus looking for respite from 255 00:17:18,780 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 4: the day's heat and traveling quickly turns into one of 256 00:17:21,780 --> 00:17:25,640 Speaker 4: the most pivotal moments in his ministry. When Jesus hears 257 00:17:25,820 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 4: that he's gaining unfavorable notice from the Pharisees in Judea, 258 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,020 Speaker 4: he and his disciples begin the journey back to Galilee. 259 00:17:32,619 --> 00:17:36,020 Speaker 4: To his disciples' surprise, Jesus chooses to go the most 260 00:17:36,060 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 4: direct route through Samaria. For centuries, the Jews had grown 261 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:43,060 Speaker 4: to despise the Samaritans, viewing them as half-breeds who had 262 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:47,450 Speaker 4: integrated and expanded as a people with non-Jews. Their disdain 263 00:17:47,470 --> 00:17:50,209 Speaker 4: for Samaritans went so far that when the need to 264 00:17:50,290 --> 00:17:53,310 Speaker 4: travel through the area arose, they would take the longer route, 265 00:17:53,390 --> 00:17:56,490 Speaker 4: crossing the Jordan River, rather than stoop so low to 266 00:17:56,530 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 4: be seen in a Samaritan village and associated with the 267 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,469 Speaker 4: people there. Imagine you're from California, going to Texas, and 268 00:18:03,510 --> 00:18:06,410 Speaker 4: you hate the people from Arizona so much, you're willing 269 00:18:06,450 --> 00:18:08,810 Speaker 4: to go up and through the Rocky Mountains to avoid them. 270 00:18:09,590 --> 00:18:12,670 Speaker 4: Suffice it to say, it was expected that Jews would 271 00:18:12,710 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 4: avoid any interaction with Samaritans. Yet as the disciples go 272 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 4: into town to find food, here's Jesus intentionally addressing a 273 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:24,120 Speaker 4: woman at the well. While it may not seem like 274 00:18:24,180 --> 00:18:28,420 Speaker 4: much at first, even Jesus' opening request would cause alarm 275 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,050 Speaker 4: for the people of his day. Not only was he 276 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:34,270 Speaker 4: talking to a woman and a Samaritan, he was asking 277 00:18:34,310 --> 00:18:37,510 Speaker 4: her for a favor, a drink of water. Because he 278 00:18:37,530 --> 00:18:39,730 Speaker 4: had nothing to draw from the well and no vessel 279 00:18:39,770 --> 00:18:42,350 Speaker 4: to drink from, the implication is that he was willing 280 00:18:42,390 --> 00:18:43,649 Speaker 4: to drink from one of her cups. 281 00:18:44,290 --> 00:18:44,770 Speaker 5: But it was. 282 00:18:44,750 --> 00:18:47,870 Speaker 4: Understood by any good Jew that you wouldn't even share 283 00:18:47,910 --> 00:18:51,350 Speaker 4: a dish with a Samaritan. But Jesus didn't play by 284 00:18:51,390 --> 00:18:54,270 Speaker 4: the same rules as others. Jesus knew the heart of 285 00:18:54,310 --> 00:18:59,110 Speaker 4: the Father and understood that man-made religiosity rarely accomplished anything good. 286 00:18:59,710 --> 00:19:02,689 Speaker 4: Almost always, it impeded the work of the Father. One 287 00:19:02,730 --> 00:19:05,429 Speaker 4: of the main things it hindered was his determination to 288 00:19:05,490 --> 00:19:08,490 Speaker 4: reach people, especially the lost and the lonely of the world. 289 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,119 Speaker 4: So it's not surprising that Jesus would not only be 290 00:19:11,180 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 4: willing to talk with Zamira, but purposefully put himself in 291 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 4: a situation that allowed him to do so. Zamira had 292 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,360 Speaker 4: found herself deep in her sin, pulling her away from 293 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:24,109 Speaker 4: any sense of meaningful help or community. This is the 294 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,110 Speaker 4: natural inclination many people have when they're faced with their sin. 295 00:19:27,770 --> 00:19:29,970 Speaker 4: We even see this with the original sin of Adam 296 00:19:29,990 --> 00:19:32,729 Speaker 4: and Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. 297 00:19:32,730 --> 00:19:34,740 Speaker 4: After they sin against God by eating the fruit of 298 00:19:34,780 --> 00:19:36,640 Speaker 4: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their 299 00:19:36,660 --> 00:19:39,820 Speaker 4: immediate instinct is to hide from God, to pull away 300 00:19:39,859 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 4: from the community they once shared with Him. While they 301 00:19:42,820 --> 00:19:45,629 Speaker 4: couldn't escape Him, they removed themselves from His presence out 302 00:19:45,670 --> 00:19:48,010 Speaker 4: of shame. And this is the pattern that we can 303 00:19:48,130 --> 00:19:51,619 Speaker 4: often find ourselves in. We sin, we draw back. We 304 00:19:51,660 --> 00:19:54,739 Speaker 4: sin again, we draw back some more. And this continues 305 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 4: until we find ourselves isolated and alone from everyone. Being 306 00:19:58,570 --> 00:20:01,030 Speaker 4: stuck in our feelings of worthlessness can be one of 307 00:20:01,070 --> 00:20:04,050 Speaker 4: the loneliest places we find ourselves in. We can be 308 00:20:04,090 --> 00:20:07,210 Speaker 4: surrounded by the largest of crowds, yet still feel completely 309 00:20:07,310 --> 00:20:11,270 Speaker 4: unseen and unknown. And oftentimes, when we fall into a 310 00:20:11,350 --> 00:20:14,670 Speaker 4: deep or long enough pattern of sin, we trick ourselves 311 00:20:14,730 --> 00:20:18,629 Speaker 4: into thinking we don't deserve a break. We convince ourselves 312 00:20:18,670 --> 00:20:21,159 Speaker 4: that our consequence should be to be stuck in that 313 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,820 Speaker 4: place forever, creating an endless cycle to just continue the pattern. 314 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,899 Speaker 4: Loneliness birthed from this place can be a nasty struggle. 315 00:20:29,540 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 4: Once we feel separated from others, it can be both 316 00:20:31,700 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 4: hard to try and build relationships as well as feel 317 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,739 Speaker 4: like the efforts to connect are actually genuine. We see 318 00:20:37,780 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 4: this with Zamira. She doesn't actually believe Jesus wants to 319 00:20:41,260 --> 00:20:44,270 Speaker 4: have a conversation with her. For years, she's put up 320 00:20:44,369 --> 00:20:47,410 Speaker 4: walls around herself to protect herself from the words of others. 321 00:20:47,850 --> 00:20:49,990 Speaker 4: And as soon as someone genuinely comes along to have 322 00:20:50,030 --> 00:20:52,730 Speaker 4: a pleasant conversation with her, she puts her guard up 323 00:20:52,890 --> 00:20:55,449 Speaker 4: and the gentle words of Jesus hit her ears for 324 00:20:55,490 --> 00:20:59,820 Speaker 4: the first time and they more sting than soothe. In 325 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 4: the technical sense, it's easier for us to be lonely 326 00:21:02,420 --> 00:21:06,370 Speaker 4: than find ways to change our loneliness. Relationships in any 327 00:21:06,470 --> 00:21:09,370 Speaker 4: form can be difficult to find, grow, and maintain, so 328 00:21:09,730 --> 00:21:11,869 Speaker 4: we often learn to settle for life on our own. 329 00:21:12,630 --> 00:21:15,689 Speaker 4: While life alone may be easier in many senses, it 330 00:21:15,869 --> 00:21:19,689 Speaker 4: certainly isn't better for us. Christ came to break us 331 00:21:19,730 --> 00:21:22,590 Speaker 4: from cycles of sin and loneliness, and He sets us 332 00:21:22,670 --> 00:21:24,790 Speaker 4: on a new path down a road of redemption if 333 00:21:24,810 --> 00:21:27,190 Speaker 4: we allow Him to, just as He did for this 334 00:21:27,230 --> 00:21:29,780 Speaker 4: woman at the well. We were created to be in 335 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:34,530 Speaker 4: community— community with God, community with others— But it requires that 336 00:21:34,570 --> 00:21:37,649 Speaker 4: we take leaps of faith. It requires that we're willing 337 00:21:37,670 --> 00:21:41,670 Speaker 4: to change. It requires some level of openness. It calls 338 00:21:41,730 --> 00:21:43,620 Speaker 4: us to trust in Him and confess that we need 339 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 4: to be saved from our sins. It demands that we 340 00:21:46,220 --> 00:21:48,639 Speaker 4: learn to be vulnerable with others and invest in building 341 00:21:48,700 --> 00:21:52,899 Speaker 4: strong relationships. It sounds complicated at first, but over time, 342 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,609 Speaker 4: we'll find that living in submission to Christ and building 343 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,290 Speaker 4: community with others is less daunting than we may have 344 00:21:58,330 --> 00:22:01,719 Speaker 4: thought initially. The more we invest in these relationships, the 345 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,580 Speaker 4: easier they tend to become, and the more joy we 346 00:22:04,619 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 4: find in them. My wife and I were once new 347 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:11,459 Speaker 4: to the city, without any friends and deep relationships. My 348 00:22:11,510 --> 00:22:14,330 Speaker 4: wife and I were new to the city of Santa Barbara, California, 349 00:22:14,550 --> 00:22:18,370 Speaker 4: without any friends or deep and meaningful relationships. On top 350 00:22:18,390 --> 00:22:20,690 Speaker 4: of that, we were new parents in the midst of COVID. 351 00:22:21,350 --> 00:22:23,830 Speaker 4: For a while, it was easier to fold into ourselves 352 00:22:23,910 --> 00:22:27,710 Speaker 4: and isolate, but eventually we felt a deep need for community. 353 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,629 Speaker 4: This need sparked action in us. We chose to be 354 00:22:30,670 --> 00:22:32,710 Speaker 4: vulnerable and reach out to people. We chose to be 355 00:22:32,750 --> 00:22:35,850 Speaker 4: uncomfortable and hosted others in our home. We decided that 356 00:22:36,090 --> 00:22:39,629 Speaker 4: the strenuous and awkward effort of building community was actually 357 00:22:39,670 --> 00:22:42,929 Speaker 4: worth it because the pain of isolation was worse than 358 00:22:42,970 --> 00:22:46,100 Speaker 4: the pain of reaching out. It's refreshing to feel known, 359 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 4: but it doesn't come without a need for change and effort. 360 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 4: Something extraordinary about our relationship with Jesus is that he 361 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:55,540 Speaker 4: can relate to us on every human level because he 362 00:22:55,820 --> 00:22:58,850 Speaker 4: chose to become like us. He entered into humanity to 363 00:22:58,930 --> 00:23:01,930 Speaker 4: experience life in the same ways we do. This means 364 00:23:01,970 --> 00:23:05,190 Speaker 4: that he can understand our loneliness beyond our intellectual level. 365 00:23:05,770 --> 00:23:08,260 Speaker 4: He has experienced it just as we have and wants 366 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,100 Speaker 4: to take those feelings from us. So much so that 367 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 4: he calls us to be his friends. People he cares for. 368 00:23:14,780 --> 00:23:17,219 Speaker 4: People he wants to be around. People he loves with 369 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 4: the most profound sense of love. For Zamira, no doubt 370 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:23,430 Speaker 4: all of these marriages and relationships in her life were 371 00:23:23,450 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 4: a result of loneliness. the result of this need for connection, 372 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,939 Speaker 4: this need for love. But what we look for in 373 00:23:29,980 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 4: the world can only be found in Jesus truly. The 374 00:23:33,180 --> 00:23:34,810 Speaker 4: story of the woman at the well is a key 375 00:23:34,869 --> 00:23:37,869 Speaker 4: point in Jesus's ministry, as this is what he does 376 00:23:37,990 --> 00:23:41,290 Speaker 4: for all of us. We find ourselves caught in cycles 377 00:23:41,330 --> 00:23:45,130 Speaker 4: of sin and loneliness, but Jesus is gonna draw it out, 378 00:23:45,550 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 4: just like water from a well. If you're feeling trapped 379 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:50,699 Speaker 4: in sin or loneliness, know that Jesus sees you, he 380 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,939 Speaker 4: loves you, and he wants you. If you put your 381 00:23:52,980 --> 00:23:56,930 Speaker 4: faith in him today, you'll belong to him forevermore. Join 382 00:23:56,970 --> 00:23:59,300 Speaker 4: us in our next episode as we conclude this story 383 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 4: of the woman at the well, and we find that 384 00:24:01,900 --> 00:24:04,420 Speaker 4: Zemira is empowered for a mission ahead.