THE STUDY OF WOMEN IN THE BIBLE – BY CAMILLE STAHL

The Woman Who Left Her Water Pot

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?     (John 4:28-29)

Back in John 4:7 we are introduced to a unnamed woman who is going about her daily chores serving her family. She was a Samaritan. She was part of a people who had been resettled in the land, moved by the King of Assyria. They had been taught and partially accepted the faith of Israel, but held onto their old pagan religions also. (see II Kings 17:24-41). Traveling from Judea to Galilee, Jesus and His followers pass through Samaria. While there Jesus sat by a well while His disciples went to buy food. When the woman came to the well, Jesus asked her for a drink. She was shocked that a Jewish man talked to her as the Jews wanted no part of the Samaritans. Jesus began to talk to her about eternal life and her state of condition (John 4:13-18). We see in verse 27, that the disciples came back from shopping and in verse 28 the woman left her waterpot to tell the men.

I would like to focus on verse 28 “then left her waterpot”. Lets look at some reasons why she left her water pot.

Maybe because she felt uncomfortable about the discourse between Jesus and the disciples. Maybe because Jesus’ food was there and she wanted Him to enjoy His dinner. Maybe because she was so excited about what just happened that the water pot would hinder her from getting back to the city to tell others.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)

To be saved we must realize we are sinners, Jesus pointed out the woman’s sins. But as we grow in our Christian life, we learn of the weights that hold us from serving to our full potential. A weight is all inordinate affection and concern for the body, and the present life and world. Inordinate care for the present life, or fondness for it, is a dead weight upon the soul, that pulls it down when it should ascend upwards, and pulls it back when it should press forward; it makes duty and difficulties harder and heavier than they would be. A stumbling block to us, so to speak.

What is your weight? What is holding you back or pulling you down from serving the Lord fully? Finances? Family? Jobs…….? These are not bad things in themselves, but they become weights if they keep up from serving Him. The woman realized the water pot would slow her down from getting back to the city to tell others about Jesus. Her excitement about Jesus was more then the needs of herself and her family. She knew she could come back to get the water, but did not want to waist time to tell others about Jesus. Oh that we all had that zeal. I ask again, what is your weight? Lets band together and pray to ask God to show us our weights. Lets beg God to lead us to a lost “Samaritan”.

Thank You

I John 5:13