Lenten Meditation: March 8, 2026
John 4:5-42
Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. (John 4:13)
In John 4, Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. Given the hostility between Jews and Samaritans, it would have been highly unlikely for Jesus, a Jewish man, to speak with her—let alone ask her for water. Yet this rich story shows Jesus teaching about embracing and honoring all people, regardless of religion, ethnicity, tribe, or clan. It is a lesson against “othering,” and a reminder that joy often emerges when boundaries are crossed and dignity is restored.
A Jewish man engaging a Samaritan woman in the first century simply would not have happened. Yet Jesus uses every encounter to teach and to love “the other.” To call him countercultural hardly captures the depth of this moment. Throughout his earthly ministry, he revealed the liberation and love at the heart of God’s reign—acts that generated joy even in the midst of oppression. Though the power structures around him were dangerous, he persisted.
Every barrier stood between them—gender, ethnicity, religion, reputation—yet Jesus chose relationship over restriction. He saw her fully, spoke with dignity, and offered “living water,” a source of life that renews joy rather than draining it.
There are many lessons in this passage, but one stands out: Jesus modeled a gospel that is dynamic, active, and rooted in a joy that resists exclusion. In a world where powerful forces still push others out and away, we are called to offer that same living water—hospitality, dignity, and love without bounds. In all the richness of God’s diversity, we find great joy.