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Chapter 7

A Female Apostle Is the First Evangelist

(John 4:3–30)

At times, we can feel immobile, stagnant, uninspired. Our gift from Jesus is to be mobilized to new opportunities, new insight, a new race, a new culture, a new hope, new possibilities. Becoming the story of Jesus means that we participate in what Jesus is doing. As we grow in Jesus, we become aware of the many ways he is moving all around us.

The Samaritan woman reminds us that God calls us beyond the expectations of others—or ourselves. Her example guides us along a path of adventure and possibility. We see in the Samaritan woman a road of discovery at the invitation of Jesus as well as the opportunity to inspire in others that same invitation. She is an apostle and evangelist. We see in her one becoming part of God’s story—in multiple ways. That’s the story we want to emulate!

Here is the story of the Samaritan woman:

[Jesus] left Judea and returned to Galilee.

He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”