He Talked to Her? Impossible. She’s Not One of Us

The Apprentice Apostle on the Road With Jesus

I was furious. Thomas, always Thomas that would doubt what one tells him.

It was an exciting time. After that miracle, when Jesus changed the water into wine, we went to Capernaum with his family. We didn’t stay long, and soon, we were on our way to Jerusalem for the Passover.

That should’ve been a peaceful few days, but it was not. Jesus found the temple in a mess and sorted it out. More about that later.

Jesus wanted to return to Galilee but needed to go through Samaria. It was the shortest route and took three days. It was noon, and we were tired. I still followed behind his apostles, where I could see his every movement and hear his every word.

We got to Sychar, a city near a plot of land our father Jacob had given to his son, Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus was tired.

We all sat down. It was time to eat, and the disciples went to the city to buy food. I did not want to be away from Jesus for a second, so I gave James money to buy me food and something nice for Jesus. I wished there was something I could do for Jesus.

I didn’t dare approach him to talk to him, so I sat and watched as he stretched and yawned, trying to get comfortable.

A local woman approached to draw water, and Jesus asked her to get him a drink. One must understand how unusual this was. The hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans went back to the days of the Great Exile, but I doubt many could remember why they hated each other so.

The woman was surprised and asked why he, a Jew, asked her, a Samaritan woman, for a drink.

Jesus told the woman he could give her “living water” if she asked. She pointed out that he had nothing to draw the water with and that the well was deep. Jesus explained that the water he gave would be a fountain of everlasting life. Still not understanding, the woman asked for some, and he told her to fetch her husband.

“I have no husband,” she said.

Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” (John 4:17–18 ESV)

You should have seen her face! She was embarrassed that someone knew her whole sinful life but, at the same time, could not wait to return to town and tell everyone about the man she’d met. She was sure he was the promised Messiah.

I saw and heard everything. When the apostles arrived at the end, they wondered how he could talk to a Samaritan, a woman, what’s more!

I told them what had happened and what he had said to the woman. Then, Thomas — of course, it had to be Thomas, told me I was lying! I was making it up to look important, and I wasn’t even an apostle.

I was hurt and angry, but I realized Jesus had overheard everything, so I calmed down. One day, I’d be brave enough to talk to him.

Many Samaritans believed because of what the women told them. They urged Jesus to visit, and he stayed two more days and preached to them. More came to believe that he was the Messiah because of his words.

I didn’t know what to think. James and I found a nice place to sleep outside as the weather was good. We talked well into the night about what had happened.

The old problems between the Jews and the Samaritans were so ridiculous, and neither race was at fault. We should learn from history and move on. Instead, we Jews are so petty we won’t even travel through Samaria but go around it along the Jordan River.

Will it get better in the years to come? I hope so, but Thomas has doubts.

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