Called 4 Jesus

John 4:12

“Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

Background:

Historians know the exact spot of Jacobs well. It has been used since the time of Jacob. 3 churches have been built on this spot (Monastery, Templar, Byzantine). Before that, a community of people lived near the well.
If water is scarce, you will live near a water source.

Survival 101: Shelter, food, water.

A thousand years ago, before the churches, you would ask for water in Shechem, and they would point you to Jacobs well.

The scripture writes the well is deep (v.11). It has been estimated the well is 151 feet deep.

Now, water weighs 8 pounds a gallon. A stone water pot, on Jesus day holds 17 to 25 gallons of water. So, women would come early, help each other, and fill the water pots, one bucket at a time. A tiring task.

The Samaritan woman came alone to fill her jar.

Note: The sheep needed a shepherd to provide the water. I have yet to see sheep pull buckets of water for themselves. Lol.

Try hoisting 8 pounds of anything up 151 feet. You can’t use gloves either. I bet you’ll be thirsty after that.

Fill your water jar 17 times, minimum (stone water jar 17 gallons). Your back, arms, even your legs will ache. A person’s hands will be raw, with blisters and bleed. Eventually, you will get used to this, after doing this chore daily.

I wonder who provided water, if the woman of the house got sick.

Point:

Jesus did the work for us. He did the work, he endured the pain, he suffered, He did the worrying and He died for us. How beautiful.

The living source of water, so we do not have to thirst again.

Now, the mature Christians serve the water, to be true examples of Jesus.

Do we have to? No. Saved by grace work from love.

My Pastor talks about Kenosis. “Emptying out (Phil 2:7).” Jesus emptying out his rights. Enduring cruel punishment to the end.

People have said Jesus had no choice. In prisoned, guarded, multiple people beating Jesus. What could He have done?

If Jesus can breathe life into Adam. If Jesus could create the universe with a word. He could have spoken a word and been released in an instant.

We humans still don’t understand this.

I do not deserve this great love and compassion. Yet, I accept it, with incredible thanksgiving.

How about you?

God bless