His Love is Stronger

“Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink.’ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, ‘How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?’ (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’” John 4:1-10

When Jesus left Judea for Galilee, three routes were available to Him; one that crossed the Jordan and went up through Perea, another that followed the coastline, and one that went straight through Samaria. Because the Samaritans could not prove their genealogy, they were rejected by the Jews. Adding to the rift was the fact that the Samaritans worshiped on Mount Gerizim while the Jews maintained Jerusalem was the only true holy place. Thus, Orthodox Jews avoided Samaria at all costs. Think of the opposition Jesus probably received when He announced to the disciples they were going through Samaria instead of taking an alternate route. Yet it was in Samaria Jesus met a woman and led her to faith in God.

So shameful was this woman’s sin that she chose not to go to the well and draw water when others were present. Like each of us, she had nothing to offer the Lord. Her life was stained and in moral shambles. But Jesus cut through the darkness of her sin by touching her with His tender forgiveness. Grace is not grace if it is not freely given. No matter what the circumstances of your life may be, His love is stronger.

We can’t receive God’s love until we understand His grace.