I am working on a story about the woman at the well from John 4. I love to sink into the stories of scripture and dig for the treasures and this story in a few short verses is full of them.

One of the things that catches my eye is that she tells the town, "He told me everything about my life!" Wait, look back at the conversation. No he didn't. What's she talking about? But the point is, he told her what she considered to be important points that touched on tender spots; he spoke in details that a stranger should not know. So in essence he had told her about "everything". It convinced her that he was special, sent by God, a prophet. Not quite the fullness of the truth.

Then he proclaims, right out in the open, straight from his mouth, "I am he." She had just talked about "Taheb", "Messiah", "Christ". Now he tells her plainly, "yup, that's me!" Rarely does Christ announce his birthright so clearly and here he is speaking to a Samaritan, a woman, a woman of low morals, and she's who he chooses to reveal himself to? Wow, now I would have picked someone much loftier, worthy, respectable, or reverent. But then, maybe that's at least part of the point. She needed him. She was one of the sick who needed a physician. She was broken and needed fixing. She wasn't put together and on the A list. She wasn't on any list anyone would want to be on. She knew who she was and she knew she was hopeless. Or did she?

When she begins talking religion, because after all what do you talk to a prophet about other than religious stuff (at least those outside the walls of the Kingdom might think so), she shows some signs of hope if not faith. "When Messiah comes he will reveal all things." How did she know that? This miscreant with the improbable moment in history is showing signs of hope, of faith? She seems to be. And Jesus rewards her with the revelation.

Can you imagine the thunder in her heart as his words penetrate her thoughts and understanding? Can you see her face begin to glow? Can you feel the revelation that not only is this Messiah, but he has just revealed the worst about you and not rejected you, but gave acceptance and even respect in conversing and revealing as much as he had? Can you understand the freedom she must have felt as she left that water jar and ran the trail back into town to tell about him to those who have rejected her? I can. I remember that first moment of revelation when the thunder of his words beat within my heart and so many times after as the revelation came and comes afresh and for me. I can see the glow on the friends and loved one as they "get it" when the Holy Spirit reveals something of Messiah to them. I have felt that acceptance and even respect when the rest of the world seemed to have no use for me, but He did. I have felt that freedom that only my Jesus can bring into the moment of weariness and weight. Have you?