Changing from outcast to evangelist is possible because of the transformation that takes place through the work of the Holy Spirit. When the Samaritan woman encountered Jesus, she was an outcast in the community. She came to the well to draw water in the heat of the day to avoid conflict with people who looked down on her because of her lifestyle. Having been married five times and living with a sixth man, who is not her husband, she must have had a reputation as a loser.
In life, we can make poor choices because of our sinful nature, but that does not mean God does not love us or has forgotten about us. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He took all the sins of humanity upon Himself, which includes people the culture looks down on. Just as the shepherd left the ninety-nine sheep to find the lost one, Jesus had a divine encounter with a Samarian woman to rescue her.
Transformation
The Samaritan woman had no idea as she went to the well to draw physical water that she would encounter the Messiah, who would offer her the gift of living water. John 4:15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” [1]
As the conversation continued, the woman talked about worship, and Jesus told her that true worshipers must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”[2] As Jesus spoke those words, the woman’s heart changed, and she realized that Jesus could be the Messiah.
God Can Open Your Eyes
John Newton wrote the hymn Amazing Grace about himself. He had been someone who was blind but could now see. God’s amazing grace opened John Newton’s eyes, and he became a believer. In the same way, God opened this woman’s eyes, and she believed. She was no longer concerned about what others thought of her but longed for others to encounter Jesus just as she had.
John 4:28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him… 39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”[3]
Once an outcast in the community, the Samaritan woman was now the person the Lord used to lead others to faith. In God’s grace, He uses broken people to reach other broken people so they can experience His living water.
To learn how the woman went from outcast to evangelist, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-woman-at-the-well
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.
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