NOTES for Joh 4:1-42

The chain of subjects along which the Lord persistently guides the Samaritan woman has been and remains for many a sequence in the human search for what matters most in life and, at the same time, in God’s search for the human soul. The Lord takes the first step and asks for a drink, thereby prompting the woman to take a step in response, one that requires some effort from her: for the sake of mercy toward a weary traveler, to cross the religious barrier that forbids contact with Jews. The next steps also require ever greater openness from the woman and trust in the Man at the well. She has to admit to Him that everything in her life is far from simple, but after trusting Jesus she asks Him about what seems to her the most fundamental question in life: where should one worship, how should one believe? Then she reveals to Him her deepest hope: even if life does not work out and religious disagreements have reached a dead end, there is One who, when He comes, will be able to put everything right, explain everything, and answer the most hidden questions and desires—the Messiah. As a result, she is the first, even before the disciples, to learn that Christ has come into the world. She proves to be the person best suited for this, for her desire to know Him overcame her mistrust, shame, and despair.