John 4:16-26. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well to call her husband. When she says she has no husband, Jesus says she speaks truly, for she has had five husbands and the one she is with now is not her husband. She perceives that he is a prophet and asks him why the Samaritans' worship on the mountain is not as good as the Jews' worship in Jerusalem. Jesus replies that the hour is coming when true worship of the Father will not take place on the mountain or in Jerusalem, but rather in spirit and in truth. "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." She replies that she knows the Messiah is coming who will show us all things and Jesus tells her "I who speak to you am he."

This is such an amazing story all around, one of my favorites. Think about the woman - she is just living her life, going about her daily duties. She clearly does not have a great life - five ex-husbands means something must be wrong - but she is living in her culture, getting by. She probably feels things are not right, but can't put her finger on exactly why. Suddenly, this total gift of grace is dropped in her lap - she meets the Messiah himself! Actually, he sought her out!

But at first she does not know this, at first she just encounters a man at the well. Given her history, she probably fell a little bit uncomfortable with him there at first. Then, as he asks her for a drink and begins engaging her in conversation, her discomfort probably grew, and possibly she even got a bit annoyed. But as he speaks the truth to her, even though it is hard to hear, she opens up. She responds, as we all should when we hear the truth lovingly spoken to us. She begins asking questions and she gets answers! Those answers must have lit up her heart and mind - God himself is speaking with her!

How amazing! No wonder she has runs into town and tells everyone. And no wonder she is so compelling that they believe her and come to see Jesus.