samaritan.

John 4: It's the story of a Samaritan woman who Jesus sees at the drinking well in town. He asks her for a drink of water, even though He was a Jew who should not have associated with a Samaritan. She was shocked by this. He tells her about the Living Water that is coming, and He acknowledges that He is the long-awaited Messiah.

All in a brief trip for water.

Jesus read this woman like a book! He knew her sin. He knew the path she walked. He knew she had already had 5 husbands and was sleeping with another man.

In truth, He acknowledged all of this. In her point of shame, He reached out to her very heart. He didn't say, "Be stoned for your sins" with an heir of haughty judgment, which customarily He was entitled to. He didn't say "Look at you now, you filth" because, remember, this was Jesus who knew no sin.

No.

Instead, He graciously implored her to turn to Him.

He even entrusted her with the secret - "I am HE." Jesus recognized before her that He was the Messiah!

I personally don't have 5 husbands or a past like this woman, but I know what it's like to feel shame and brokenness. I know what it's like to be anxious and tired.

I am thankful for a King who looks at me in the heat of my mess and says, "Mallory, I am HE! I am He who knows the very depths of your heart. I am He who loves you despite your sins. I am He who wants to meet you right where you are."

In the story in John, the woman runs back to tell the world of her conversation with Jesus. May I follow her example and tell the world of who this Jesus, Messiah, Ruler of all has been to me! He has been a friend. He has been a provider. He has been abundantly patient with me. He is good.

²⁸ Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ²⁹ “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” ³⁰ They came out of the town and made their way toward him.