The changed life of the woman at the well- a short story based on John 4:27 - 30

"At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why do you speak with her?" So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it? They went out of the city, and were coming to Him."

Good Lord, what was happening now? Could that be Anna flying down the road shouting and hollering like her dress was on fire? It has surely been an interesting day. This wasn’t the first thing that got my attention. Living here at the edge of the village had its advantages. I have a better view of the road than anyone in town. Not much gets past me. Just before noon I was the first to notice the group of strangers making their way towards us. They were an unusual bunch. All of them Jews, that was a surprise in itself. The Jews usually do everything they can to avoid us. This group was such an unlikely mix; who ever heard of a tax collector and a Zealot hanging out together? My Jeremiah got to talk to some of them. He said they were the most respectful group of Jews he ever met. Most Jews looked down on us Samaritans and treated us with contempt when they find themselves in a position where they have to interact with us. We returned the favor. But these guys were different. At least most of them were anyway. They claimed to be followers of a Rabbi named Jesus who had stayed out by the well. We had heard whispers of Jesus. It sounded like he was a troublemaker of some sort. Rumor was, he had caused all kinds of commotion at their last Passover. Anyone who could make those stuffy old Pharisees hopping mad couldn’t be too bad.

As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one day, here comes Anna running down the road acting very unAnna like. What on earth could be wrong with that girl? I never see her talking to anyone any more than she has to. If she does have to interact with someone, she holds her head up high and pretends that she is above all of us. Otherwise, she keeps to the shadows, hiding her face in shame and avoiding the other women. I know the other women talk about her behind her back, myself included. She denies every accusation put to her, but we all know what she is. She has a lot to be ashamed of and we don’t want her to forget it! It’s really no wonder that she keeps to herself so much. I’m sure no one has anything nice to say to her. But sometimes when I see her headed out for the well in the middle of the day all alone, I can’t help but feel sorry for her. She must be lonely. She has had plenty of men to keep her company, but none ever lasted very long. Not that men are very good company to begin with.

Something extraordinary must have happened to have her dashing in to town yelling for us to “come see a man who told me everything I ever did!” Half the shock is hearing her admitting that she ever did anything! Anyone who could bring about this kind of change in Anna was definitely worth checking out. Could this possibly be the Messiah as she indicated? The very Messiah we had been waiting for? We had so many questions! I was excited as I joined my neighbors rushing out to the well to see the man who was waiting for us. I was a little nervous too. What if this was a mistake, a hoax? One look at Anna told me that something had happened. The woman practically glowed. It made me think, if this man knew everything she had done, then he might know everything I had done too. Would I be so willing to proclaim my own sins to bring people to him? Would knowing him change my life so much? Did I want my life to change? I looked at Anna again. She was so happy. It was the first time I had ever seen her at peace. I knew in an instant, I wanted what she had. I had to see Jesus for myself. I ran down the road towards my destiny and I was never the same again.

Continue on to hub #37 and learn How to use the Seed Method to study the Bible, developed by Priscilla Shrirer.