Thoughts on the Gospel of John (40) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

The woman said to him (Jesus), Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?
John 4: 11.12.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (40)
The conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman was unique indeed. The Son of God, travelling as a humble, dependent Man, met a person whose desires were far different from His. She may not have sensed physical thirst, but her soul was suffering. Had she known that the "Saviour of the world" was sitting in front of her, she would have told Him all her troubles.

This nameless woman was in a similar situation to the learned Nicodemus. Neither of them understood that the Lord's questions and answers aimed at spiritual rather than natural things. He spoke of "living water". It sounded promising, but where was it to come from?

The woman's thoughts centred in the well. It went back to Jacob's times, the patriarch of the people of Israel. To draw from it was a particular privilege. She even called him "our father". The great characters and events of the five books of Moses were important for the Samaritans, too.

Could this Jewish man before her be greater than Jacob? She could hardly think so. Her religious feelings rejected the thought; she cherished her centuries old traditions. It is no different today: people esteem human traditions, not realising that these prevent them from appreciating the greatness of the Son of God. Jesus said to her, "If you knew ..." He is not only greater than Abraham and Jacob. There is none greater and more glorious then He!

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today‘s reading: 1 Samuel 2: 1 - 11 · Ephesians 4: 11 - 16