Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Jesus and the Samaritan woman

By Steve Conley

Scripture: John 4

Props: Microphone, bucket

Cast: Reporter, Samaritan woman

Reporter: Good evening ladies and gentleman. This Skipper Jones reporter for channel 7 news. I’m here in Samaria searching for a woman who supposedly came in contact with Jesus. Just to bring you up to date I’ll give you some background on the case. Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, “Jesus is baptizing and making more disciples than John”. So he left Judea to return to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and....

Hold on here comes a woman now...

Reporter: Excuse me ma’am, Skipper Jones from Channel 7 news could I ask you a few questions?

Woman: Yes.

Reporter: Ma’am I’m looking for the woman who supposedly came in contact with Jesus at this well.

Woman: I am that woman.

Reporter: This is exciting. I’m standing here with the woman who came in contact with Jesus. Could you tell me a little bit about that day?

Woman: Yes. Jesus was sitting on the ground where you are standing and He asked if I would please give Him a drink.

Reporter: Where were his disciples?

Woman: Gone into the village to buy some food.

Reporter: It says here that you were surprised. Why?

Woman: Because Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.

Reporter: Then why did Jesus ask you for a drink?

Woman: That is what I asked him. I said, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

Reporter: It says here in my notes that He said, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

Woman: Yes. That is what He said.

Reporter: Ma’am. Have you ever heard of dead water?

Woman: Yes.

Reporter: Could you define the two?

Woman: Yes. Living water is active. Dead water is stagnate.

Reporter: Can you recall what happened next?

Woman: Yes. I told Him, “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket and this is a very deep well. Where would you get this living water?

Reporter: It says here that you said, and I quote, “And besides, are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his cattle enjoyed?”

Woman: Yes. That is what I said.

Reporter: Do you think that was an appropriate question to ask... Jesus?

Woman: I did not know it was Him at the time.

Reporter: Oh. (pause) It is also reported that Jesus said, “People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Woman: Yes. I asked Him, “Please, sir, give me some of that water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to haul water.”

Reporter: But Jesus told you to go and get your husband. Did He not?

Woman: Yes.

Reporter: And is it true that you did not have a husband?

Woman: Yes. That is what I told Him.

Reporter: And in fact Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now.”

Woman: I told him, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

Reporter: Ah ha! It all comes down to worship doesn’t it?

Woman: What?

Reporter: Anyway. I have here that Jesus said, “Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Is that true?

Woman: Yes. I told Him, “I know the Messiah will come—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, He will explain everything to us.”

Reporter: And what did He say?

Woman: He told me, “I who speak to you am He.”

Reporter: Well, there you have it. Did Jesus ever get His drink of water? I guess we’ll never know. One thing is for sure. This woman will never go thirsty again. I’m Skipper Jones for Channel 7 news.

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